Katie’s version
(the short & better version)
February 2, 2008 started out as any other Saturday; I went for a run while Todd played Xbox and Miles (the cat) lounged on his lap. We decided to take one of our usual Saturday walks to downtown Seattle and stopped at Macy’s and Monorail Espresso. Todd suggested that we walk down by the waterfront and I took us on several detours in Pike Place Market
while Todd patiently followed along.
He led me to a private spot at the Waterfront Park pier overlooking Elliott Bay. As we watched the ferries coast by he started fidgeting in his pocket and I, being easily distracted by the seagulls, didn’t notice when he quietly pulled a ring out of his pocket and asked me to marry him.
Knowing that Todd tends to be sarcastic sometimes (anyone who knows him knows that is a COMPLETE understatement), I wasn’t sure if he was serious or playing a joke on poor little gullible me. My first line of defense was to say, “Are you serious?!” The look in his eyes told me he wasn’t joking and when I finally realized he was asking me
to spend the rest of my life with him I said “Yes! Of course!”
We called my brother who ordered us to take photos so we headed to the nearest tourist store, Pirate’s Plunder, and bought a disposable camera to return to our engagement spot and take some glamour shots. I wanted to get an eye patch, but Todd wouldn’t let me.
Todd’s version
(the long & boring version)
Sometime in November or December of 2007, I had decided that I was ready to ask Katie for her hand in marriage. I knew that I wanted to get engaged sometime in late December or early January. Because I’m a bit traditional, I knew this meant that I would have to ask her father for permission. I assumed he would say yes, but I honestly was more scared asking him than I was asking her! Being that it was the holidays, I knew that we would be back in early December for Christmas. I figured that this was the perfect time to ask him. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance — or perhaps I was too nervous to make time — to ask her father. As we flew back to Seattle, I didn’t know when I would get another chance to ask him face to face. It wasn’t something I really wanted to do over the phone – it seemed rather impersonal, but I couldn’t figure out a better (cheaper) way to ask. Plus, if I randomly was gone for a day or two, Katie might notice, and I didn’t want her knowing.
Every day at work, I said to myself, “You’ll call her dad today.” Unfortunately, my natural procrastination came into play, and it didn’t stop me from rationalizing to myself that I would call him the next day and the next. Finally one morning, I took a Post-It note, and wrote in big black letters CALL TODAY. I put it on my desk as a constant reminder. I ended up staying at work until about 7pm that night, not because I had to, but because I kept on putting it off. Finally I called.
“Hello?” Elwin answered. I said, “Hi Elwin, it’s Todd. I’m calling to ask for your permission to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage.” I had practiced it a million times, but it still came out fairly complicated. Somewhere in this, Katie’s mom had also picked up. I think I caught her dad off guard, since it was basically “Hello, [enter life changing question here].” All worked out, and he gave me permission. The only trick was having her mom keep the secret, something she said she wasn’t very good at doing.
In the next couple of weeks, I made a point to secure the funds and find the ring that I knew she would want. I did so (at E.E. Robbins), and waited for the right time.
One Saturday morning we went walking around downtown, at my suggestion. I figured at some point I wanted to get her by the water to ask her. As we left, I ran back in to my apartment quickly (without her), took the the ring out of the box which was hidden in the back of the closet, and put it in my pocket. We walked down into the city, and happened to go into Macy’s where they happened to have a wedding expo. Katie convinced me we could win a free trip to Hawaii if we just went and put our name in, so I followed.
However, during the entire time, I complained that it was freaking me out, and we weren’t even engaged!
After a quick lunch, I suggested we head down towards the pier. We walked down to the pier, and found a small little park. As we were overlooking the Puget Sound, I told her ”I have a question for you.” I reached into my pocket and searched around for the ring. I freaked out that I had lost it — nope, there it is. I pulled it out, showed it to her, and asked, “Will you marry me?”. I believe her first response was “Are you serious??” quickly followed by a “Yes!”
And here we are.