The Wonderful Day Jen Got Engaged 
     by Jenn


 Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 5:46 PM

    I got engaged Friday, April 2, 2004. It was one of the happiest moments of my life, a fantasy come true. The week started off rough, and just continued to grow until by the end of the week I was tired and cranky, not wanting to do much more than to just go home and crash for the weekend. James and I had even had our first sort-of fight at the beginning of the week, when he sadly let me know that he had lied to me about getting the ring he had been telling me about since the weekend before. I was emotional, as all girls get sometimes, and so of course the news was not taken lightly. I started crying because I wanted the ring and to be engaged so badly, and then he let the bomb out that he hadn't even bought the ring yet, after promising me that he had it already. So I cried myself to sleep that night, with him being really sorry and apologetic. But I wasn't expecting anything after that, because he told me he couldn't even afford a ring until May.

    So the week progressed, and I was just a bit depressed and down. Leigh Ann came up to me in the middle of the week, and proposed an idea to me: the boys wanted to go dancing and wanted to take us out. I said that I would think about it, but that it sounded fun, because I knew that the last time we went out, it was a total blast, but at that exact point in time, I was just exhausted. Later that evening, I recieved a phone call from James asking me if I wanted to go out, the same thing Leigh Ann had asked, and told me that Jay wanted us to go out to celebrate Leigh Ann and his engagement. I was still pretty tired, so I was trying to offer different ideas, such as staying in and renting a movie or staying in and sleeping, but he would have none of it. I knew something was up because James was so adiment about going dancing, and that is just not James. Usually he will just go along with what I want to do, or offer different things for us to do, but not this time. He wanted us to really go out. So I finally got him to admit why he wanted to go so badly, and he told me that he had already promised Jay that we would go, because Jay wanted James to take pictures because he had a surprise planned for Leigh Ann. So I got upset with him, getting on to him about not thinking of me or if I even felt up to going, and he apologized, but in the end I said I would go. (Just a side not, I wanted to go, I love being around Jay and Leigh Ann and I knew we would have a great time...I was just so tired)

  So Friday finally came, and I was in my room trying to find a dress that seemed nice, that seemed fit to dance in, and that the dress wasn't one that I'd worn tons before, and found that I really don't own that many dresses. So I called James and asked him if I could wear pants, as I just couldn't find a dress that I wanted to wear, and he said "Sure". Right after I finished getting dressed, Leigh Ann called to see what I was wearing and asked if I would wear a dress, because she was dressed up, and so I just put on my black polka-dotted dress that I wore to the band banquet and went. When I got to Sturgis, everyone looked fantastic, especially Leigh Ann, who was just beautiful in her white skirt and red heels...James and Jay looked so handsome, I started getting excited about the evening. So we left for hot springs, making two small stops first, one to Jay's house to pick up his camera, and one to Brookshires to cash a check, and then on we went. We ate at the Mall, at El Chico's, and saw Juan, who was our server, and had good food and fun drinks. Leigh Ann and Jay were recognized by a few people, them congratulating the new fiance's, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, but I held it in check. :) Since we had some extra time before the Arlington got rockin', we walked through the mall a bit. As we were leaving, James came up to me, got on his knee, and said "Jen..", I was shocked and angry all at the same time! "How could he consider proposing in a mall of all places", and also, "How mean! He isn't serious!", and so I was told that I just looked angry - but I was. First because of the two about reasons, and then even more after he said "I have to tie my shoe." Jeez - that is so mean! Especially since I wanted it so badly, it was worse than waiting for christmas, because at least one knows when christmas is and how long to wait for it. But I was angry, and I didn't speak to him for about 10 minutes. Finallly I just told myself not to let it ruin my night, besides, we were there to celebrate Leigh Ann and Jay's engagement, and I was determined to be happy about it.

   So we got to the Arlington and Leigh Ann and I went to the bathroom, where I proceeded to grip to her about how mean James was being and how I was never going to be engaged, and how lucky she was, and I tried to ask her if she knew about anything special that was going to happen tonight - if she had a clue, because so far Jay hadn't said anything about the "something special" that was for Leigh Ann. She didn't know anything, and so we finished primping, and went out to the dancefloor to meet the boys. James then went up to the band and asked them to play "The Way You Look Tonight"- Frank Sinatra style, which just happens to be my favorite and most beautiful song in the entire world. So we were dancing, and in the middle of the dance, he got down on one knee. I had such a wide range of emotions going on at that particular time...I wasn't sure if he was serious, I was shocked, happy, scared, all at the same time. I looked over to my right, only to see Jay holding the video camera, and Leigh Ann with her hands covering her mouth in happiness, and I looked to my left and saw that everyone had stopped dancing and were staring at us in silence, when suddenly, a faint clapping was heard, it seemed from very far away, and it grew. I looked back at James, only to see him pull out the ring box, and then I knew that it was for real, and I could only stand there with my mouth open, it seemed like forever. Then I couldn't decide whether to start laughing hysterically, start crying, or to be angry at him for lying to me all this time. So I think I did all three, at the same time. Everyone was clapping and I was crying and laughing and calling him a jerk (in the best way), and someone said "Did she say Yes?", and thats when I remembered I had to say yes, but the most I could do was nod. So I nodded, and then hugged him, and that was it! I was engaged!

   So the four of us were given a table by a nice couple, and I just sat there basking in my happiness, not quite sure of what had just happend. We talked for a while, danced one more song, which happened to be the singing version of "The Way You Look Tonight", and we went home. It was a wonderful night, and I have a wonderful, romantic story to tell people. It was more than I could ever have even dreamed for: He made a fantasy of mine a reality. My ring is beautiful and I am happy to be able to show it off, but mostly I am happy because now I know for sure that I get to keep the best guy I've ever known for the rest of my life. The End.

 
Jenn –who is curious why it took Jay three months to post this...