onetime2

Thanks for asking. The 20th was our 6 year anniversary and I would have liked to have done it then, but trying to get from work to the city would have been almost impossible. So, I set it up for Saturday night.

It didn't quite work out as planned since Carol took a little longer to get ready than she was supposed to. That meant dinner was out. It was okay though because she decided on her own that she wanted to get dressed up a bit for the show. She was absolutely gorgeous.

We did make it to New York early enough to walk around a bit (and secretly scout out how far it was to the carriage pick up). I was a little concerned that she was on to me since she got so dressed up and because she suggested the carriage ride after the show. So, we headed to the theatre around 7:15 with the doors opening at 7:30 and the show starting at 8:00. We had tickets in the seventh row for Phantom of the Opera.

The show was excellent. It ended a little after 10:30 and we headed for the carriages. As we walked it was tough to keep her from bumping into or feeling the box in my coat pocket but I managed to keep it hidden. It was a beautiful night for the end of November in New York. Probably about 50 degrees with no wind.

So, we find a carriage and begin our ride. We took the short ride since the garage we parked in closed at 11:45, so we went by Rockefeller Center and around the block towards Radio City Music Hall. The conversation wasn't exactly what a script writer would have worded but here goes:

Just after passing Radio City, I turned to her and said "Wow, it's been six years since we met."

Carol: "Yeah and I'm not in an insane asylum yet."

Me (laughing and attempting to get away from the "insane" talk): "If anyone should be insane at this point it's me. So, how long do you plan to drive me crazy?"

Carol (also laughing): "Well, you drive me insane on a daily basis, so I'd say for the rest of our lives. And then probably some more after that."

Me (given up on turning the conversation and reaching for the ring): "Well, then will you marry me?"

Any doubt I had about her knowing it was coming was erased by the look in her eyes. She was absolutely surprised. She wasn't expecting it at all. I never thought I could pull it off without her knowing since this is the way she always dreamed of being proposed to. Setting it all up was perfect. We had gone to the Radio City Christmas show a couple of weeks before this and she wanted to go on a carriage ride. I put her off, hoping that she'd be more insistent the next time we were in the city. She was and she was ecstatic about the whole thing.

Carol: "Oh my god. YES!"

We kissed. And as soon as we stopped kissing a guy on the street yells to me "Now you have to propose to her."

Carol and me simultaneously: "I just did."/"He just did"

Now half a block away from the guy he yells "CONGRATULATIONS!" So, he was the first to know(or second depending on when the carriage driver figured out what was going on). The carriage driver then offered his congratulations as well.

And to make it even more interesting, the carriage we were in was the same one used in Serendipity. So, once we buy the movie (neither of us have seen it) we will have a permanent souvenir of the carriage ride.

Again, thanks for asking. I didn't expect anyone to remember that post.

Take care and I hope you all have a great holiday season! I know we will (so long as the family doesn't yank Carol's finger off trying to get a look at the ring).

--Paul

**edit** I suspect the next question will be "When's the wedding?" Oct 15, 2005. We figure it gives us a good amount of time to get things set up and gives her relatives in Korea some time to save for the trip since they would like to attend.

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