28 October 2009

The Engagement: the detailed version

Yay! for all of you with RSS feeds. My own is an appalling mess and I really need to go clean it out on of these days and re-set it so it more accurately reflects my reading interests. I haven't looked at it in over a year. Really.
So let's see, it seems that the story of the summer that interests you most is the story of my engagement. Some of you may have known that I was dating someone, sort of, in Alaska before I moved back. The guy was wonderful but it just wasn't working for me so sometime in March I decided to split with him. After being away for so long I felt I had lost whatever "it" that was there. I felt terrible about it but one cannot manufacture feelings where they are not. And I was busy with my job and my new/old co-workers (I had worked here seasonally before) and friends. One of these new/old co-workers kept insisting I go x-country skiing with her and another co-worker, someone completely new to me. And so we skied, weekend after weekend as the light came back to the northern skies. On weekend new/old co-worker (who needs another name) was away on a trip to Hawaii but new co-worker and I decided to keep skiing together. I thought he was cute, I liked him, but I was new and trying to focus on my new job and blew it off as me making things up. Then he wrote me the sweetest card asking me out on a date.


I have to say I was absolutely flabbergasted on our first date. There were flowers (all the way from Los Anchorage) and a homemade meal, candles, table cloths, and champagne. I think he even intended a post but I had been in Alaska too long - long enough to not know what to do with a man who is really and truly romantic. And bold. Did I mention he was bold? The funny thing is, that both of us moved here thinking, 'dating is going to be slim to none but I'm going'. I mean after all, the community we live in has about 250 people. We were so wrong about the dating. We had a great rest of the spring and a great summer despite our crazy hectic schedules. And it just felt right. I dunno, I never used to believe people when they said they just knew someone was the one but we did. We just knew it. Of course, he loves the Disreputables. Retrospectively, he knows wouldn't have had a chance if he didn't. His friends didn't believe him that he's met someone until he sent pictures of proof. They were sure he was making me up. Guys don't meet girls in Alaska, right? Everyone knows that.


This fall my love, my parents, and I went on a backpacking trip north of the arctic circle. It's something I've dreamed about with my dad since I was in high school and we had been planning it for some time. It was sort of the end of the field season, enough so that we could escape. We had this amazing backpacking trip for 6 days across the tundra. Then, sore and bedraggled we hauled ourselves to a hot springs just north of Fairbanks. Under the new lights of the stars and the moon - new to us as the darkness was just returning - as the mist of the hot springs wafted around us and my parents were long in bed, he proposed. It was very romantic. Of course I said yes. We've had three distinct reactions: my family) what? you know what month already? his family) what? you don't know the date already? our co-workers) what?! you are going to wait a year?! Because we have decided to get married near the fall equinox next year when the workload slows, the colors are gorgeous, and even those scared of winter can love Alaska.

21 comments:

  1. I started my RSS feed to keep on top of the GeoBlogs I like. Then I found out I could set up one for my facebook friends status updates. Now I check it daily to see what my friends are saying about themselves, and only click through to facebook if I wish to comment. It is great, I never miss anything, I never see their quiz results, and I'm mystified as to what they are going on about when they complain about changes to the facebook interface. I particularly like the fact that once I'd read something there it leaves the screen (but can still be seen again should I so choose), so I feel like I've accomplished something by clearing out the reader each day, even on days where nothing catches my eye in the first line or two and I use the "mark all as read" button...

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an awesome story! Good to know that equinox is a good time to visit Alaska, I have wondered what would be a good time of year to go. I promise not to crash your wedding though ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely story. I am glad of your happiness.

    And glad he loves the disreputables too.

    T.

    ReplyDelete
  4. When it's right, it's right!

    I remember you leaving a comment on my blog about a man who actually realises that dead animals do not constitute romantic gifts... I assume this is the same guy?!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful story. Congratulations again. I waited until about six months away from the target date to start planning my wedding and it was a nightmare even though I felt I was looking for something pretty simple and easy. More time is never a bad thing in these cases.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations! I am so happy for you. I like it when people are surprised about their engagement. I know after 9 years I was! ;-) Enjoy yourself in AK.

    ReplyDelete
  7. congrats again. glad to get an "amen" on the "you just know" sense. because... you do!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am definitely familiar with the "it feels right." So happy for you - congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chena Hot Springs!! I've been there...though during the afternoon and with co-workers. Your visit sounds infinitely more wonderful. ;-)

    Autumn is my favorite time of all. Perfect time to get married...

    Congrats again!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great to hear from you! Especially with such news and this really nice story. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations a hundred times over! Beautiful story, pictures, and future wedding!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you for the story. That really made me smile. Also congratulations and have fun planning.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for telling the wonderful story of your courtship! Congrats again. And yes, when you know, you just know! (c:

    ReplyDelete
  14. @ Cath - yep...he's the guy who doesn't think dead animals are romantic gifts :)

    @ All - thanks so much for the warm wishes!

    ReplyDelete
  15. @ hgg - you are welcome to crash at our place if you come up to AK any time other then around our wedding.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you!

    Also, I'm really happy that DDog recovered from all his surgeries and is doing better. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a lovely story! My best congrats again!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well, we should talk about how hard it is for a girl to meet a guy in Alaska (Fairbanks)!!

    ReplyDelete

Please leave your messages here...I am always delighted to have comments!