"Do My Parents Know You're Here?"

In March 2007, I was 19 (and also 20) and living with my infinitely patient parents after I'd had a brief adventure in being married to the wrong person. I couldn't drive because I earnestly believed everyone on the road would die if I tried to operate a vehicle. I was going to a tech college to become a computer repairperson. My grades were beginning to fail because I was beginning to devote every waking moment to talking to or thinking about my boyfriend, Joe. I only saw him every other weekend, though, when he drove the six hours' round trip to visit me.

That year, my birthday fell on a Tuesday. Joe and I had plans to see each other on the following weekend. Tuesday started out like a normal day; my dad drove me to school that morning, I got my daily good-morning e-mail from Joe ("Happy birthday! I miss you baby and I can't wait to see you in 4 days, 5 if you're looking for pity and drama,") and I very quietly got texts during class about what he was doing at work.

Usually I stayed at the school until my dad picked me up on his way home from work, but that day, my mom picked me up early since it was a special occasion. Ten minutes from home, we stopped at a gas station and my mom called the house to ask if anyone wanted anything. I don't know what they wanted, but I wanted a blue slushy, so I got one. Then we went home.

I kicked off my shoes in the kitchen and was just hanging out, slurping, texting still-at-work Joe about how awesome my mom was for bringing me home early. "You should probably go put your shoes in your room," my mom said, "so Cedar doesn't get them." The dog had grown a pesky fondness for my footwear. I had to go in there anyway to let my birds out of their cages for the afternoon. So I picked up my shoes and carried them off.

When I opened my bedroom door, I was shrieking at the birds to let them know I was there (and also because I'm obnoxious) - and I stopped mid-shriek. The room was lit by soft candlelight. Rose petals were everywhere. And there was Joe, awkward and smiling. He got down on one knee, presented a ring, and asked me to marry him.

I was overjoyed and shocked. So I dropped to my knees too, to hug him more easily, and whispered, "Yes!....do my parents know you're here?"

They did. Everyone knew except me. He and I had been talking about getting married, and I knew he was working on getting a ring made, but I honestly wasn't expecting a proposal. And from his e-mail and texts, I had no idea he'd actually driven three hours that morning to be at my house, hadn't even been at work that day.

So. That is why my lips are blue in our engagement photo.