...aka Citizen Cope. Ok. So.....settle in, kids. Alyssa here, so you know you're in for a ride. It all starts with the ring. Cara follows...ok, aDORES a photographer from Philly, Tara Beth, and has followed her for some time. When she got engaged to her fiancé Vanessa, the ring came from a small, inclusive jeweler out of Philly, Emily Chelsea Jewelers. *DING*...into the 'Cara Jean' notes section of my phone THAT nugget of info went. I just knew when the time was right to get the party started, I had to go with them. So I did. I designed the ring, got it delivered - total stealth mode. Boom. All set. Now, what to do about proposing. I had so many ideas. SO....many ideas. I was talking through ideas with Cara's best friend Megan, running through all the scenarios in my head, making these elaborate plans and wanting to do ALL the things to make this woman know just how special and loved she is. One idea incorporated a Cameo (one of those videos you pay for from celebrities on the internet and they personalize it). I thought it would be really sweet to get one from an artist that meant something to us and make it so at the end they would say "and now Alyssa has a question for you". Cool. Right. Super easy. Awesome. Nope. Not easy. Not awesome. No one who meant anything to us was available, or even offering Cameo's at the time. Whatevs - onto the next. So I stop to take a scroll break on the 'Gram when I come across a Citizen Cope post in which I see him interacting with his fans in the comments. Now, we've seen Cope a few times together and it's....euphoric. If you've never been, come with us next time - it won't disappoint. *DING DING* A lightbulb goes off. If I can't reach him on the Cameo, let me try him on the 'Gram. So I do. I "shoot my shot", as the kids say, and send him a DM, pleading my case and asking him to get on Cameo so I can buy one for him because he is a huge part of our story, yada yada. NEVER thinking he would read, let alone respond. About 24 hours goes by. This ring is burning a fiery hole of B U R N in my pocket, but I'm determined to not word-vomit and wait until the moment is right. Whenever that is. I'll feel it, right? I'll most definitely know when the moment is right. Right? I'm pondering many ideas when I jump back on the 'Gram and I have a DM. I open my messages and see CITIZEN COPE at the top of my messages. WUT. COPE. Clarence Greenwood. A man of very few words but the most poignant of words....he says "Text me (number redacted)". THIS MAN HAS GIVEN ME HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER. On his daughter's birthday, nonetheless. So I do. He asks what I want. I tell him. I'm shaking. Trembling. WHAT?! No later than 5 minutes after I send him my thoughts, this man sends me video and at the end is my "and Alyssa has a question for you". O. M. G. Dead. I'll fast forward the blubbering and rushing around to the part when Cara Jean gets home that same night. I have friends at the ready, champagne chilling, succulent hiding (you know, to commemorate the occasion!). Cara Jean arrives home and I'm standing in the kitchen; dogs go nuts per usual and she has a little work to finish up. I say "HEY DID YOU SEE THE VIDEO I SENT YOU". She hadn't. (I didn't send any videos, but wanted her attention) I INSISTED SHE WATCH said video. She did. I dropped to a knee and froze. Well, cried a whole lot, was still shaking and then froze. She actually had to tell me to stand up. Asked if I needed a hug. It was like my first time touching a ring. I had no idea how to put it on her finger. But eventually did and here we are! And I wouldn't trade any moment of that for anything...ever. So there you have it. I knew. I knew exactly when the moment was right. No frills. No fanciness. The moment was right when it was entirely not planned. Which is how we roll. I should have known that from the moment I got the ring, duh.