I had known for a while that I was going to propose to Mary some day. We had even talked about certain aspects of our someday wedding. One of those aspects was the song we'd first dance to. I finally decided to pop the question when I heard that The National would be coming back to Cincinnati. What could be more special than to propose during the song we'd first dance to. Covid-19 had other plans; the concert was cancelled, but I had a contingency plan. One thing Mary looks forward to every year is Bonnaroo. Naturally I thought this would be another good opportunity to propose, but again Covid-19 cancelled that as well. My plans foiled for the second time, I was left trying to figure out how to make the proposal as special as it could be. After some time, and advice I realized it didn't need to be big; it didn't need to be public. For the proposal to be special, all it needed was the two of us--Mary and I. So I started planning. I had the ring made with rose quartz that we "mined" together in Pigeon Forge. I decided on a date. I arranged for my brother Bart and his girlfriend Staci to be there for picture taking purposes. I figured the best option for a proposal would be just another date like one we'd been on before. We went on a walk on the Purple People Bridge, a little while before a showing of The Two Towers. I had Bart and Staci waiting with her camera at the end of the bridge. Once we got close I told Mary I wanted to spend a lifetime going on dates with her (I have a lot of cheeseball lines). I got down on one knee and pulled the little box out of my jacket pocket and asked if she would marry me. Lucky for me she said yes, and was shocked, which in turn shocked me because I was sure she had figure me out. We walked up the bridge a little bit and took it all in. Mary called her parents, Staci got more pictures and Bart and I held purses. Mary and I spent the whole movie stealing glances at the ring…and to this day we still do.