Flashback.

This time last year Jeremy and I were snowed in, enduring the Winter storms of 2010. Working on a site & campaign launch from the confines of our sun room (more like the freezing ice box encased in windows & 4 foot long ice sickles just waiting to slice through your scull and into your brains at first attempt to open the back door to take the mountains of trash out for the first time in a month because of the 12 feet of blizzard vomit outside). I digress.

I had just started a new job -- didn't know squat. Jeremy's encouragement, knowledge and support was crucial for those few weeks because, A. I was working from home on something I knew little to nothing about without my team, & B. he's been in the industry for more than twice as long as I have. One of the perks of working in the same field. Otherwise, sometimes I find myself wishing I was a Nurse or he was a Lawyer, so we couldn't speak each other's language so well, making for less 'work talk' after work. Isn't all that bad though -- after all, we wouldn't know each other if it weren't for Advertising (& TBC, fine I said it.)

Finally the snow melts a few feet down and we're able to get out. I go back to work, risking my life on 95 heading into Canton each day (or risking my life in a different way on N. Patterson Park Ave), as Jeremy stumbled in the safety of our home from bed to toilet to office in a matter of 3 minutes and 20 feet.

Friday was February 12th and as I was wrapping up a long week, I get an email from the bf saying he was on his way to pick me up and take me for wings (mmmm). And after we would head to Whole Foods and pick up the dinner makings for what would end up being the best Valentine's Day EVER in the history of history.

Since we had moved into our house 5 weeks prior, we wanted to celebrate this particular v-day cooking dinner in our new kitchen, eating at our new dining room table (which still didn't have chairs), and making our inaugural fire in the fireplace. It was going to be perfect.

Meanwhile & little did I know, on that Friday the 12th, Jeremy had been downtown for hours trying to find a ring box because, yes, he was going to PROPOSE! My engagement ring was a gift from my grandfather to my grandmother in the 50's. My mom gave it to Jeremy, not a jeweler, which meant no ring box. And because of the TUNDRA we were living in at that time, FedEx never came. He ordered multiple boxes hoping ONE of them would arrive by V-day. As of Friday the 12th, nothing.

Before I took this new job, we had a trip to Miami planned. A dear girlfriend of mine was flying to South Florida at the same time we were from SF and J was going to pop the question down there (sans ring box) -- in one of my favorite places on earth. Sounds perfect & warm & sandy & tan (especially since we had apparently been uprooted and dropped down in someplace like Canada with the 12 feet of snow and bitter wind and minimal temps), but in retrospect I'm thrilled I took that job and cancelled our trip, forcing Jeremy to come up with "plan B".

Plan B was perfect. No sand. Definitely no tan. But perfect and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Sunday was Valentines Day. I had NO clue what was about to happen. We had a normal day. Woke up. Went to the gym. Bought a new dress to wear from Cloud 9. As I was out, multiple FedEx boxes arrived at the house to Jeremy's surprise & slight annoyance. Around 2pm we decided to go for a late lunch and a beverage. Landed our butts at Grand Cru (surprise, surprise). I sipped Pinot Grigio, while he enjoyed the daily tapped specials. We shared a cheese plate along with the breads and spreads. It was lovely.

Headed home after a sufficient buzz for showers, new dress, lamb shank, Cajun catfish with asparagus and forbidden rice. Also took a stab at steaming an artichoke. Didn't steam nearly as long as needed. This year, when we recreate our beautiful day (this Saturday), I'm going to get that puppy steaming hours before dinner so we can actually eat it. Finishing the dinner with some chocolate covered strawberries was just the right touch, and will be again this year.

Finally, fire time.

Heading into the living room, I was still completely unaware. J asked me to open the fireplace up, check the flu make sure it's all set, and he was going to get the wood. I opened the doors and the screen to find a cherry wood box sitting on the iron grate. I stood there. Shocked. Disbelief all over my face, I'm sure. Thinking Jeremy had gone to get the wood, I didn't know he was standing behind me.

"Aren't you going to pick it up?"he finally said, as I still stood frozen like a statue with my jaw dropped. After picking it up, I quickly handed it to J, to which he said "WHY ARE YOU HANDING IT TO ME!?" After lots of laughter and a mutual understanding of what was about to go down, he got on one knee told me I was his best friend and the most important thing in his life and that he wanted to be my husband. Said "will you marry me?" and I immediately yanked him up off the floor and screamed and jumped and yelled "YESS!!!" with tears rolling down both of our faces. We smooched and ran laps between the living room, dining room and kitchen. It was the only way I could express myself! God that was so fun.

Focusing back on the fire, I opened the flu and.... a dead bird, frozen bird fell down RIGHT where my beautiful, antique ring was sitting! Best quote of the night is when Jeremy said "That can't be a good sign." However, I think the opposite. I think that frozen birdie blessed our union (and also made me laugh so hard I almost peed.)

After we calmed down, it all set in (and we scooped the birdie up and threw it out back), we texted and called EVERYONE we knew. That was an amazing couple of hours. Telling our story to our loved ones. Hearing my Dad cry on the other end of the phone with pride (big surprise...we all know Barry's a tearful, emotional, sweet man). Hearing my future mother-in-law's relief and joy. FINALLY getting to talk to my mom after calling her 400 times. She decided she was going to see a late movie on Valentines Day with Henry, knowing FULL well we were going to be engaged that night. Nice, Mom. :). Our friends were thrilled as well. Some had us on speaker with screams & joy in the backgrounds. All of it was so overwhelming and amazing.

Finally we got to enjoy our fire. Sitting on plastic tubs from the move (no living room furniture at this point), we propped our feet up & enjoyed a little silence and reflection, every so often one of us would go "HOLY SHIT", which was the only expression we had left.

A day I'll never forget. Love you, J. Can't wait to recreate it all on Saturday!

-ERSM