....It had to be the perfect day, with all the perfect people, in the most perfect place in all of Manhattan.
Allow me to set the stage. Paul had very cleverly coordinated a surprise visit from Karla (best friend from college) and Kevin (Karla's husband) the same weekend Lindsey (best friend from childhood) and Alex (Lindsey's fiance) were planning to be in town to visit. I was oblivious to any such plans, so when Paul took me out to dinner a few nights before the engagement I nearly fainted when I saw Karla and Kevin coming toward me with open arms and large grins. Kevin scheduled a work event at the Hard Rock in Times Square and Karla had flown in on the red eye the previos night. Before I knew it, I was sipping merlot with my two best friends thinking about how Paul hadn’t let on to the surprise at all. Not one little bit. What a guy.
The next night we were all sitting around the table playing cards and drinking wine when Kevin suggested one of his clients wasn’t using something the next day--but refused to say what that something was. He asked us if we’d be up for a surprise and, if so, we needed to be ready by noon. We all agreed and figured it was some type of transportation. Fun Fun, my money was on a hot air balloon...or a limo ride. Probably a limo ride.
So Saturday morning we all got up, just like in the old college days, and made breakfast while we sipped our coffee slowly and laughed about the little joys in life that had kept our friendships going for so many years. We enjoyed a slow morning while the sunshine poured in.
Everyone started getting dressed and I couldn’t help but notice how put together everyone looked for a weekend afternoon. I was tempted to put on my old yoga pants and worn Chuck Taylors but decided I better not since everyone else looked like a million bucks.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about how perfect it would be for Paul to propose with my best friends in town. I did think about it, but more in the sense that I didn’t want to get my hopes up. The weekend was already more than I could have ever hoped for and I knew he hadn’t had a chance to ask my parents yet (or so I thought--that's a whole different story!). So I tucked my wishful thinking in the back of my mind and said a small word of thanks to the universe and to God for giving me so much happiness at one time.
When we stepped outside I was struck by the seasonably warm temperature and the clear blue sky. It was the perfect March day. We walked to the corner and just as suspected, there was a limo. At this point I started to get a little curious but the whole time I was convinced that Paul had nothing to do with it because Kevin had been on the phone with the limo driver the whole morning and everyone else was surprised, too. Kevin’s clients didn’t want to use this limo? Weird. The six of us piled in and off we went through the Lincoln Tunnel, across Midtown and up the East Side. The day was ours to seize!
(Pre-proposal, Paul looks a little nervous!)
We slowly started to discuss where we should go. I guess I figured if Paul had had something to do with it there would already be a predetermined end point but, alas, there we were talking it over. We decided on the Metropolitan Museum of Art or Central Park. But when we pulled up, the line to the museum was intense so Central Park it was. Random decision, or so I thought...
As we walked into the Park I immediately switched into my tour-guide mode. You see, Central Park is my favorite thing about New York City and I know it like the back of my hand. I was SO excited to be showing off my favorite place. Someone mentioned they had to use the bathroom so I motioned everyone to follow me across the Great Lawn.
(Headed into Central Park, playing tour guide.)
Here’s where it gets interesting. Rewind a year and half. It was early Fall 2011 and Paul and I had just started dating. I was excited to show him my love for Central Park so we got a couple of Pumpkin Spice Lattes and strolled hand-in-hand toward the Great Lawn. We found the perfect little bench and took a seat while we sipped slowly and talked continuously. I had known for weeks that he was the one but, when you ask him, it was that day in mid-September when he realized he was falling in love with me. Before we knew it, the sun was setting. We had spent hours on that bench without a care in the world, wrapped up in the fact that this was the very moment they talk about in all the greatest love stories. This was it. Hook, line and sinker, we were sunk.
(Actual photos from Sept. 10th, 2011)
OK, back to present day. Someone has to pee and I’m playing little Miss Tour Guide. I implore everyone to follow me across the Great Lawn and I say that on the way, “I’ll show you guys the bench where Paul and I fell in love.” Yes, I said those very words and Paul knew then that it was going to be a perfect proposal. Without having a clue what was about to happen I set him up. We’ll call it the hail mary pass that sent his perfect plan into the end zone for an OT touchdown.
As we approached the bench from behind I noticed the woman sitting on the bench next to it looked very much like my Mother. My heart flinched a little bit realizing that I was probably just homesick. Plus, there was no way it could have been my Mom because she had just texted me from Boston with an update on how move-in day was going for my brother and his girlfriend as they settled into their new apartment. (Again, so I thought. Sneaky Mom!)
As we rounded the corner toward the bench,
started walking really fast. He was practically dragging me. As we pulled up to the bench he said, “Look, our bench has two coffee cups on it.” At first I thought how rude it was that someone had left their trash on our beloved bench. But then Paul said, “And look, they have our names on them!” And sure enough, one cup said “Kate” and the other said “Paul.” I stopped to think about this. Why and how had he done this sweet gesture? And how did he know we would be walking by the bench today, at this exact time? And what in God’s name....I turned to look at him....my eye catches a familiar face on the next bench down. It’s my older brother, and next to him my little cousins and darling aunt and oh my Lord, there’s my Dad, too.
(Noticing my family is all there for the first time. Note, I hadn't even seen my Mom behind me.)
I look at Paul, who grabs onto my arm. It hits me, he’s going to propose. He is proposing. Don’t faint, don’t faint, don’t faint. He says, “This is the bench where we fell in love, and I want to do that with you for the rest of my life.” Down on one knee he goes. Ring box opens. I cannot find oxygen. I’m trying to speak the word “yes” but all the oxygen in the world has evaporated. I finally exhale, “YES!”
Next thing I know there’s clapping and loud cheering and my entire family is giving me hugs and kisses. All of this under a perfect blue sky, on a perfect Saturday afternoon, in the most perfect place in all of Manhattan.
With my heart full and my family by my side, we headed back to our apartment for an engagement celebration. My mother, knowing me all too well in that there would be no food in my fridge, brought what could have been considered an entire grocery store all the way from New Hampshire. She even managed to bring 16 champagne glasses for everyone to toast the occasion. My Dad gave a beautiful toast and the night faded into laughter as we replayed the day’s events over and over again.
The next morning we gathered at my favorite brunch place in Hoboken, right on the Hudson River overlooking the city. We ate, we drank and we talked about being married. I can easily say it was the best 48 hours of my life. So thank you to my family and friends for taking time out of your busy lives to be a part of my most favorite day (and for capturing it on film and video!) And to my fiance, no longer just my man-friend, thank you for giving me such a fairy tale. And for validating my wedding board on Pinterest. ;) I love you more than I could ever say. God really knew what he was doing that day on the kickball court.
