OMG!!!!!!!I'm engaged.....I'm getting married..yes, the confirmed bachelor and bachelorette are giving up their single days for married days......see what had happened was......
So we decided that we would go to Orange Beach to celebrate his 35th birthday which just so happened to fall on Memorial Day. On Friday we went to Eufaula to move the rest of my stuff before we left. When we came back home (yes, now it's officially my new home because I gave my single home up!!) We decided to leave around 3 and go straight to Mobile to hangout with DJ Black. So as we entered Pensacola, the bottom fell out. I mean, it was raining so hard. Torrential rains....it was hard to even see the road....so we decided that we wouldn't go to Mobile but we would just stop in Orange Beach and check in a room and chill for the night.
So we called Brett Robinson to get the room we would have on Saturday. However, the price was ridiculous even with the promised 50 percent off on the room. So we drove around to a few other places before deciding to go back to Phoenix V. This time when I called, I got a different person and an excellent rate for that night. We checked in and we were both exhausted from the long drive and the long day--we decided to go to Ruby Tuesday and have a drink and eat a little bit. After eating, we returned to the condo, took a shower, and we went to bed.
On Saturday morning, the rain had passed. I mean it was absolutely beautiful. We could walk out on our balcony and see the beach. At 8 in the morning, there were so many people already out....we walked the beach..letting the sand engulf our feet.....and the waves crashing to shore...it was absolutely serene and tranquil....it was very relaxing...it was exactly the thing that we both needed. After the long walk on the beach, we decided to grab some lunch and then head out to the outlet. Orange Beach is awesome, I actually like it more than Destin. It's more open and there's more to do. Loved the outlet....we picked up a few things at Coach(that store always has the best sales!) ...we then went to Polo and got some new gear....I've never been a Polo wearer but there were some shirts I really liked. After Polo, we copped a few things in Banana Republic. By the time we left, we were exhausted. So after we stopped to indulge in TCBY, we headed back to the room. Took a shower and went to bed. It had been a really long day. We decided to wake up in the morning and grab some breakfast at Cracker Barrel....
On Sunday, I woke up before he did and watched some television. Around 9, he awakened from his deep slumber and we got dressed. As we were leaving, I heard him on the phone...he was sitting on the patio...when he came back into the condo he said we're going on a boat ride at 5. That was great because that was something that we had tried to do on Saturday but the place we called had bad numbers. I was excited! So we went and had a great breakfast. We then decided to go have pedicures because the sand had jacked our feet up!!!! We rode around for awhile before we actually found a place that was open on Sunday. So we got pedicures and it was relaxing.........as we got ready to leave and head towards the marina...it started to rain..now when it started to rain....his demeanor changed....he started acting like something was on his mind and he was trying to figure it out. So as the rain got harder, we conceded the fact that we wouldn't be setting foot on a boat that day. There was a restaurant, Tacky Jack's, that we decided to go have a few drinks. So I put our names on the list for a table on the deck. But the whole time, he seemed bothered by the fact that we couldn't get on the boat. So it was me this time that was like it's ok. We can just hang out and have some drinks and some food. We decided that we would just go to the movies after eating. So I downed a few margaritas and he drank some virgin daiquiris.....we just talked..I was trying to get him to relax and finally he did. When he prayed over our food, he said we aren't going to let the rain still our joy. That was a great prayer....
as we continued to sit....the rain started to disappear...and all in time enough to make the boat ride. We headed back to the marina to get our tickets. There were quite a few people who were going to be on the boat as well. So after we waited for about 30 minutes it was finally time to board the ship. We decided to go the top deck because not many would make the trek up there. The view was absolutely gorgeous. The wind was blowing...dolphins were jumping out of the water..the homes on the bay were immaculate and astonishing......for a moment, I just stopped to just be in that moment. I looked at him and I said, "this is so calming and beautiful." Then I asked him, "Do you love me?" To which he replied, "Yes, and I'm going to show you how much in a minute." Now when he said I thought that was an odd response but for the first time I didn't want my inquisitive nature to ruin that serene moment. Really I didn't want to hear him tell me that he didn't mean anything by it. So I let it ride.
The captain came on the microphone and said we were heading back towards the marina. A few minutes later Al just jumps up and walks inside the ship. Now I thought that was odd because usually he will tell me that he has to use the bathroom or he will be right back. So i'm just sitting and waiting for him to come back.....the captain comes back on the microphone describing some bird he wanted us to look at...then he says there is someone who wants to make an announcement......I remember hearing...."SHATANGI WARE" and there is only one person who calls my entire name like that....so when he called out my name everyone on the boat started looking at me...like they just knew my name was Shatangi.....my name could have been Stacy or Jill or anything....was it because I looked like me.....things that make you go hum...............
anyway.....back to the name......so I slowly stand up at the encouragement of all the onlookers....so when I stand up I see him standing and he tells me that he loves me so much and that he would be honored if i would be his wife and he opens a box...I see a ring.....and it was like that moment was so surreal...time just stopped.....no it was more like time restored itself in that moment for me....my life had come full circle....and I was so happy and overwhelmed...this was unexpected ( I told Ms. Hill that he would propose that weekend...but I thought he would do it more privately) boy, didn't he surpise me....the tears just started rolling down my face...they wouldn't stop...it was like the thing that I said I never wanted to do was at this moment the only thing I wanted to do. So he made his way to me and I sat in his lap..he put the ring on my finger...and I said yes!!!!!Through the tears......I know he couldn't believe the tears because he had never seen me cry. I just kept hugging him and kissing him..and he asked if I liked the ring and I said I love it, it's beautiful...people were clapping and taking pictures..I mean he couldn't have planned it to be more perfect...I've always loved watching shows were men come up with these great ideas to propose to the woman they loved. And I always thought it was a fairy tale and that it would never happen to me...but it did...
Once we docked, I was sitting on top of the world. I just kept looking at my hand and smiling..I was overjoyed......I just wanted to scream at the top of my lungs to let some of what I was feeling out...........he on the other hand was so calm...it all made sense why he was so upset when it started to rain...I asked what was his plan B...he told me he was going to put an O'Douls, my ring and a note that read, "Even though the rain stopped our boat ride, nothing can stop my love for you...will you marry me........I got a tear just hearing that.......He was going to send me to fetch a beer and I would have found that.........God, I love this man......he has made my life so much brighter and better...I truly am blessed....infinitely blessed.
I couldn't sleep that night..and I wasn't taking my ring off...I had to let it sink in that this was real....that this was my life....that I was engaged and getting married. Words can't even express what I felt!