"Ben and I were visiting very close friends in New Year City and I was beyond excited. I've been to New York many times before on "Art Bus" trips for undergraduate visual art programs at George Mason and to visit family, but I had never stayed in the City. New Years Eve was just around the corner, and the city was buzzing with anticipation and plans for the big night. I couldn't help but wonder if Ben was planning something special for us during our trip. This thought fell from my mind like a weak balloon popped with a dart as he told me "Now, don't expect anything out of the ordinary. You know me, I like to plan romantic things all the time so if I decide to do that it doesn't mean anything crazy is happening". I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel disappointed after that comment. Was I looking forward to being Ben's wife even though he hadn't asked me yet? uh, OF COURSE! But I knew I had to patiently wait on him to ask me and this, guys, was extremely difficult for me. If you know me you already know I'm a planner but it just didn't seem right to plan our wedding 100% without being engaged first... so I was stuck waiting. A night goes by and I'm feeling exhausted. Not only am I thinking about Ben maybe not asking me to marry him, I'm also trying to balance one of the largest art commissions I've been asked to do to date. (One that will not be complete until March 29 by the way - yeah I'm busy LOL). Ben and I had just finished watching 'Good Will Hunting' on Netflix. He asks me where I wanted to go next. I didn't have a strong opinion. Then he starts asking me what else he could possibly have to do on his checklist before proposing. I'm annoyed and he keeps asking me. I say "I don't know, maybe you don't have anything left". He nods and says,"Well maybe I'm done stalling..." I'm thinking " Wait, what? " I snap up and give him a really serious look. "Really?" He puts my hand over his heart and it was beating so wildly I could barely catch it. "Elizabeth...