Come celebrate with us!

On April 20, 2018, I posted something on Facebook letting friends know that I'd be doing a hike at Cornell Farm in Dartmouth, MA. If anyone wanted to join me, they were more than welcome. Since Brian and my sister were in the same class in high school, he and I had been Facebook friends for a while. He responded to the post, asking me how far I planned on going. I told him I was planning on going just a few miles with my friend's dog. He said he would join me with his dog if I was up for company. I assured him that he was more than welcome to join us. The next day, Brian and I officially met for the first time at the trail and hiked with a couple of friends of mine and the dogs. We all had a great time and got along very well. Conversation flowed freely and time passed quickly. It was a wonderful day!

For the couple of weeks that followed our first meet-up, Brian and I got to know each other a bit through texting and phone conversations. We had our first official date on Thursday, May 3, 2018. He asked if I wanted to join him and his dog for a walk along the cliff walk in Newport, RI. Of course, I went. :-) I met him at his house. He drove us to Newport for our walk. We walked for quite some time, talking about everything. Again, conversation was so easy. We laughed a lot and shared some life stories with one another. He drove us back to his house, where before I got in my car to leave, we shared our first kiss. We knew right then that we had something special, so special that we had dinner the next evening and even went to a party together the evening after that. We were inseparable from the start.

December 14, 2018: When you know, you know. Brian goes to Kay Jewelers to buy the perfect ring. He knows he has to pick the perfect day to pop the question, but when? He remembered that we planned a hike with my father for July of the next year. Would he really keep the ring for 7 months? It would be perfect to have my father there. So that's what he did. He hid the ring for 7 months. 7 MONTHS! He didn't tell a soul until it was time. July 13, 2019: Brian, my father and I drive to Mount Washington from our rented condo. We began our hike up the Ammonoosuc Trail at about 7:00, heading for the Lake of the Clouds. A few hours later, we arrived. While I took advantage of a real ladies' room, Brian was showing my father his perfect place. I had no idea! Side note: The week before, Brian had secretly driven to Mount Washington, hiked all the way up to find the perfect place, then hiked down and drove all the way home in one day. He also called my father, asked permission and told him the entire plan. Back to the story: So I'm using the ladies' room while he is showing my father this magical spot. I come out as my father is going in to "use the facilities." He tells me that Brian wants to take a picture of us by the lake. Brian walks me over to show me this absolutely gorgeous lake about a mile from the summit. The water is crystal clear. The weather was perfect. The view was amazing. He sets up his phone, as he always does to take a picture, and walks me over to his spot. As I'm turning toward the camera to smile, he gets down on one knee. He proceeds to say some loving sentiments. I'm not telling you what he said. I'm saving that for myself. :-) He asks me to marry him and takes out the ring...the ring that he has kept hidden for 7 months...the ring that he carried all the way up the mountain. I smile the biggest smile and reply, "OF COURSE!" We kissed and held each other for a bit, then headed over to share the wonderful news with my father. It was absolute perfection.