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My latest magic moment happened after a year of planning and clandestine activities. I called 60 people inviting each to the magic moment, swearing them to secrecy and informing each one who knew, so no loose lips sank the ship. Ordered hand made invitations and sent them out 45 days before the magic moment. Hired a photographer, selected the location, acquired a wireless mic, verified a power hook up with the Parks Dept. and arranged a meal. Relatives where flown in, I had then shuttled to hide outs, confirmed plans to have others on the phone and scheduled a day full of activities. I was able to slip on the wireless mic at our last stop (a Greek bakery) when I "had to use the restroom".
When I walked on the beach at sunset with my wife, turned on the mic, dialed the phone and had 47 sets of eyes sneaking a peak out of the pavilion. We walked to a predetermined spot (set up with the photographer), I dropped to one knee and asked my wife to marry me again on our 25th wedding anniversary. Several magic moments occurred; when she heard her father's voice on the phone, she thought he was there because she never noticed the phone. She was a little distracted by all the eyeballs on us.
I asked for her father's permission to marry her and this time asked if it was OK with him "If I kept her for another 25 years". Another was when she said yes, part of my speech was to pull a shovel out of the sand and proclaim "I would bury myself if she said no". And the next one was to see her reaction when her sister surprised her when she walked onto the beach.
I am amazed to this day that I pulled it off with the only clue she knew was that I was planning a surprise that would cost a little bit of money. The ring, the dinner, invitations and the day of activities (museum, park and antique browsing) cost $2200. My kids knew but never even slipped up once during the year of planning. My wife knew something was up when we drove into the park and she noticed our daughter's car parked next to a friend's car.
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