THE Question

This month will make 7 years that B and I have been dating. I knew pretty soon into the relationship that I wanted to marry him, but he said he was never getting married. I knew this was just because he was so young and so I waited. And waited...


My fiance isn't a romantic. I knew all along our engagement wouldn't be a long and involved plan to surprise me. With that being said I don't have a romantic story to tell you like so many other brides. But, how B asked me to marry him, I totally expected and it was true to his nature. So, let me tell you how it happened:


I am a PhD candidate in Chemistry. In the second week of February of our second year of school we go through candidacy exams we must pass in order to continue to our PhD. We have to write papers, present, and go through grueling questions and this causes the month prior to be very stressful. I began preparations on Jan. 4, 2010. After the first day, I was exhausted and wanted to veg out on the couch, and so I watched a movie.

I was laying on the couch watching Practical Magic. Once the movie had ended, Ben came up to me and said, "Will you marry me?" No bending on one knee. No ring. Just asked me if I'd marry him. I didn't believe him and so I asked him if he was serious. He said yes. I had been waiting for this moment for YEARS and I still didn't believe him. But I said yes. I didn't know whether or not to be excited because he has jokingly asked me to marry him in the past. I know, so cruel, right? I had a big smile on my face but I asked him if he was playing a joke on me. He said that wouldn't be very nice and that if I didn't stop asking him if he was kidding then he was going to take it back. It was then that I knew he was serious and I was so excited. I gave him a big hug and kiss.

I asked B how long he had been thinking about asking me. He said a few weeks and he had been waiting for a moment that felt was right to him. True to his nature, he was flying by the seat of his pants and went for it.



I didn't know what to do next. I just wanted to open the door and shout out to the world that I was engaged! I first called my parents. They didn't answer since it was about 10 pm. So I called my sister. She was the first one to hear the GREAT news. I sent texts and called friends I knew would be up at that hour. I asked B if he wanted to call his parents and tell them, he said I could do it. I called and his dad answered. I told him B had asked me to marry him. He responded, "Why'd he go and do that?" I was a little taken aback by that but he then corrected himself saying congratulations and handed the phone over to B's mom who was so excited and full of questions. She said not to pay any attention to her husband since he knows nothing of romance.


The comment by B's dad didn't really phase me. Over 6 years I had grown accustomed to his comments. One time I died my hair red and the first time he saw me he asked if it was Halloween yet. He tends to make inappropriate comments at the most ridiculous moments and we all just laugh and shake our heads.

How did you get engaged? Was it a romantic gesture or did it just feel right?