It was a Sunday evening that I (the groom) realized I needed a date. In the modern, 21st century way of doing things, one jumps online for such things rather than go about it the old-fashioned way because I, just like her (the lovely bride), had little time for the classical method being the studious & employed types. She was the only one with whom I bothered to begin a conversation - and I was lucky enough to find she could complete a written thought without the use of slang or shorthand, of which I was as equally impressed as I was confounded that in Bakersfield such a being of rare/exquisite beauty and intellect existed. It was over this medium that we discussed - at length - our aspirations, dreams, interests, and most importantly: the things we do not like. Because after all, Love is borne out of mutual aversion! But after some time, we had to meet in person because our fingers were in such pain, and so we settled on a Friday night at Temblor Brewing - a location that has now become a staple of our relationship. We stayed there for 4 hours but it felt like thirty minutes. Time flies when you're with the one you love. We do everything together now. She has become my best friend and a loyal companion, the sweetest woman and the most supportive spouse. We're living, loving, and fighting for everything we have - from our jobs and education to what we're eating on a daily basis. She's always been the artist and I've always been the writer. I think this is a story we can work on together. Fairy-tales don't exist, but if they did they'd look a little like this. Also, I've turned her into a gamer so we couch-co-op all the time - that's my type of fairy-tale.

We were in the midst of planning our two-week trip to Italy when I said "Oh, save me a day in Florence that I get to plan for a very special occasion." Needless to say, I baited perfectly. For six months, she was under the impression I would make a grand gesture in the Chianti region near a vineyard, secluded from onlookers (we're private people, thank you) and within the rolling hills and countryside of classical Italy. No - I'd propose a month early to catch her off guard - in the sweeping, chilling wind of coastal California. Since we do everything together (same MBA classes, same workplace, same friends, same games, etc.) it's impossible to keep a secret. Besides, a year before the proposal we had already discussed plans for marriage - but we knew we wanted to get through schooling first. As most things were discussed, there was the element of asking her parents for her hand - of which she came with me! Because it wasn't like I could just sneak away from my desk for lunch without her knowing. But of course, she excused herself so that I could have a private word - under the influence that the proposal would happen on foreign soil. But I had other plans. So in the romanticism that is Cambria's coastline, I wittingly took her around the bend away from any onlookers where the rocks form a cliff-like face and there, shaking in the late-April air of a dusk-lit sunset, I got down on one knee - and promptly stumbled through my delivery as a result of the flaring of nerves I haven't felt since seeing her. She was cold, I was cold - there were rocks in our shoes and a brush of water as the tide began to creep upon us. But it's memorable - and the ensuing "engagement" weekend will last forever. For once, I managed to keep a secret from you for six months. I think it was worth it.