The Proposal

So, I was told that the weekend would be this: Sunday after the Matinee of Social Security at Scripps Ranch Theater, we would drive to LA, and spend the night at Charles' brother Chris' house. Monday we would knock around in LA and or Hollywood, spend Monday night at Chris' again, perhaps go see Piranha 3-D with Chris if he had the night off, then go to Disneyland on Tuesday for our 5th Anniversary. The only stop we would have to make on the way was to the Grand Californian Hotel, to visit Charles' friend who worked there, who had special tickets for us, to go see Fantasmic with dessert, and that is usually super expensive, but he was hooking us up, but he would not be there Tuesday, so we needed to get them on the way up.

As we pulled up to the hotel, Charles told me that if any one asked we were to say we were checking in, because that was what his friend told us to do. At the gate, the very cheery lady asked "Checking in?" and Charles told her yes, and she promptly asked under what name. I blurted out, "that isn't good" and Charles looked at me and said, "Don't worry, my friend took care of it", "Charles Peters" he told the lady, and she said, "very good" and placed a green permit with his name on it under the windshield wiper and we drove ahead to the self-park line at the front door of the hotel. A man bounded up to Charles' door, opened it and said, "Good evening, Mr. Peters, would you like me to help you with you luggage?" and Charles said, "yes". Now, I was totally confused, and to all of those who know my very well, confusion leads to frustration, and well, frustration leads to me getting feisty. In a harsh whisper I asked "What are you doing? We are supposed to just be getting the thing!" and he said, "don't worry" and got out of the car and came around to my door. He opened my door, and helped me out of the car, and I said again, "honey, I thought you were just going to run in!" and he turned to me and said, "no, we are staying here for three days, Happy Anniversary."

That was the first surprise. Apparently my face was priceless, though I didn't see it. Upon checking in to the hotel, I was given balloons, and a autographed picture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, buttons that said Happy Anniversary, and was led to a fantastic room, complete with rose petals and a single rose on the bed. There was a fantastic view of Bear Rock and the Hollywood Tower of Terror off in the distance, and as soon as the shock of all of this started to settle in, we were off to the Magic Kingdom to get our photos taken for our annual passports.

Passports taken care of, we went to eat at the Mexican Restaurant next to Big Thunder Rail Road, our favourite place to eat in the park. I told Charles that this was the best anniversary present ever, and he smiled and said there was more. Already overwhelmed at this point, I told him this was making me nervous, as I still had butterflies in my stomach.

Next, we headed over to Pirates of the Caribbean, and walked right on the ride. No wait at all. Next stop, the Haunted Mansion, but alas it was closed, it is that time of year, when they change it over to Nightmare Before Christmas. Then Charles pointed out that while every year on our anniversary we get our picture taken on Splash Mountain, we had never done a night time photo, and why not check it out. So, we did, and again, we walked right on to the ride, AND got our own log. Just the two of us in the log. We held out our hands with all five fingers for five years, and smiled for the camera, and came crashing down, and managed to not get a drop of water on us. It was perfect. When we got back to the ride operator, he smiled and asked if we would like to go again. Not wanting to tempt fate and get soaked this time, we thanked him, but declined, and ran to the booth to buy our anniversary photo. Next we rode Whinney the Pooh. We got our own Honey Pot Car, and this time when we came around and the operator asked us if we wanted to go again we said YES! And around we went, laughing and signing along about the insincere hephalumps and woozels.

At the end of this ride, we could hear Fantasmic coming to an end, and Charles said, lets get across to Main Street and get some coffee before that lets out, and I agreed, we didn't want to get stuck in that crowd. So around the people we went, through Adventure Land and over to cross Main Street, where another crowd was forming to watch the fireworks. We got our coffee just as the fireworks started, and Julie Andrews was singing, and Charles turned and said, "follow me". So we hustled to a bench, at the top of Main Street, a bench where five years ago, he had told me that he loved me for the very first time. I sat to watch the fireworks, totally enjoying this completely perfect anniversary. Charles said "I have something I have to tell you." I looked at him and he leaned in and kissed me, and put his hand on my leg. I realized that he hadn't just put his hand there when he started to push on my leg. I looked down, and there was a small box. I looked at him, and then back at the box, and then just as disembodied voices began to sing "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and more fireworks exploded he opened the box and asked "Will you marry me?"

I said yes, and kissed him and hugged him and cried, and kissed him some more, and he put the ring on my finger, and I kissed him again, and then he told me that he had not heard what I said. I told him "Yes, yes, yes, YES!!" and he said, "that was what I thought, but I wanted to make sure", and we laughed and smiled, and I did get fainty and woozy and was unable to walk when we tried to stand up. When I could manage it, we went over to the train, and road the train all the way around the park.

It was the best day of my life.