Wedding Blog

I told already you one of my truths from my 2 truths and a lie game. My other truth? The proposal. Mr. Toucan did propose to me in a dark, almost empty, parking lot of a hotel! Mr. Toucan faced lots of little obstacles to make the proposal happen, so I thought it was best if he shared the story with all of you.

A Lovely Day For An Engagement
As told by Mr. Toucan

When we told people that we were engaged, they had one question for us. It wasn’t about how we met. Everyone knew that we were college sweethearts and had been together for 5+ years. It wasn’t “What do your parent’s think?” We have known each other for so long, people know that we get along extremely well with each other’s family (Both my and Miss Toucan’s family get along so well, we are all vacationing to Hong Kong together over Christmas.) The question was of course: How did it happen? Where did you get engaged? And the answer was simple. Sort of…

“In a parking lot.”

First, let’s step back for a moment in time. I knew that Miss Toucan was the one for me. I knew for a long time, but with the whole college thing, I didn’t have much money. So, we played the waiting game - waiting for me to get enough money for the perfect ring that my future wife deserved to wear for the rest of her life. So we waited.

Now, jump ahead a year and a half.

After working for a year, switching careers, and rocking out at Momma and Dadda Toucan’s house (my parent’s house), it was time to take the plunge. I wanted it to be special, and I wanted it to be memorable. Our engagement had to fit two criteria:

1. I wanted it to be on a holiday. It’s easy to remember. “We were engaged on the first Sunday after the first full moon on/or after the vernal equinox” doesn’t have the same ring as “We were engaged on Easter.”
2. It HAD to be a surprise, Miss Toucan loves surprises, but she has this uncanny ability to sense when a surprise is coming. If she was an X-Men character, her name would be “No Fun” because she always knows surprises before they actually materialize.

So now, what holiday? Christmas was just a bad idea all around. Yes, it would get me out of buying a gift for that year, but would it really be much of a surprise? New Year’s was too cliché. The list goes on… Presidents’ Day would just be random. Groundhog Day would be good (Reliving the moment again and again like Bill Murray had a good ring to it…) But, what else is there? Fat Tuesday? Good Friday? Memorial Day? Man, this thing is tough.

I looked at the calendar. St. Patrick’s Day was the 17^th of March, and Chinese New Year was on the 18^th!!! PERFECT!!! I found the day. It would mix my Irish heritage and Miss Toucan’s Chinese heritage to combine for a perfect time!!! And, we’d never forget it if I did it right at midnight!!! A Lovely Day for an engagement!!!

Only problem was, of course, (which I bet half of you are already thinking) that I read the calendar wrong. In going through my list of holidays, I must have misread the month for Chinese New Year, because it of course was on the 18^th of FEBRUARY, not March. Sharp blow, but sometimes, you just have to roll with it - which of course, as you will see… is a common theme of this engagement story.

Ok… so my ideal engagement day was gone. That’s ok, I thought. I’ll just do it on Chinese New Year. That still will be good! I know. I’ll give out those little red envelopes* with the ring inside! GENIUS!!! (Even though, I’m not apparently supposed to give those out… but you’ll hear about that)[*Miss Toucan comment- Red envelopes, or lai see, are given out during the Chinese Lunar New Year to represent good luck and fortune for the year to come.]

Ok, so the week before, I realize I actually need to get a red envelope. Where the hell do I get a red envelope? Where is this mystical place that has these red envelopes? Chinatown maybe? But, where in Chinatown? I know. I’ll ask my co-worker. She’ll know. Oh wait… she has extra? Score!

THE envelope.

Now, I need something to put in this envelope. The day before the big day, I planned to go down with my family to NYC for a special tour of Grand Central Terminal, which only happens twice a year. It was the perfect cover for stopping by the NY Diamond District! After some looking, haggling, and a sharp hit to the bottom line, I found the perfect ring, and headed home.

Perfect. Red Envelope. Check. Ring. Check. What else? Oh yeah, Miss Toucan, of course!

Problem 1: Miss Toucan was in New York to celebrate Chinese New Year with her extended family.
My thoughts: She visited family in NYC often, and I knew that her trips were usually short. She usually left for New York on Saturday morning and was back in Boston early Sunday. Since Chinese New Year was on a Sunday, I still could propose on the New Year. Her roommate is out of town that weekend (Perfect!), you can give her red money pocket there! She’d never expect it! Keep it private, that’s my style. Problem 1 solved.

Problem 2: I still hadn’t asked her dad for permission.
My thoughts:Miss Toucan is scheduled to come home midday. Once her parents drop her off, I’ll stop by her family’s house and do my thang. Problem 2 diverted.

Problem 3: A phone call from Miss Toucan. Since it was the New Year, they decided to stay later than usual, and wouldn’t be back in Boston until the evening.
My thoughts: Ah crap. What am I going to do? Think… Think… Got it! I’ll offer to meet her family to bring her into the city! (The Toucan nest is pretty far from Miss Toucan’s apartment in the city.) Then, I can just do it all there… ask Daddy Toucan, give her the envelope… and do it all there! One shot deal! Problem 3 solved.

Problem 4: Would be weird to only hand out a red envelope to just Miss Toucan? Wouldn’t that ruin the surprise?
My thoughts: Good thing my co-worker gave me extra! Make 1 quick stop at the ATM. Stuff extra envelopes with cash, and problem 4 diverted.

Problem 5: Where are we going to meet? What’s convenient? What’s close to the highway? What’s an easy landmark?
My thoughts: Ok… if it’s right on the highway, every time we pass we can be reminded of this wonderful time! What’s around our area? Ummm… there’s a hotel there that’s a pretty distinguishable landmark….

Sheraton Hotel Framingham

That’d be good! It looks like a castle, kinda. Ok, let’s meet there. Problem 5 solved.

I arrive first.
My heart is pounding. I’m getting nervous. What if she says “no?” And, in front of her family too? Well, I won’t drive her home that’s for sure! ok… calm down… you’ll be fine… breathe…

I see her parent’s car pull in. It’s going to be ok…

I get out… they get out….

“Happy New Year”
“Happy New Year”

Me: Oh I have something for the New Year. [Pull out red envelopes]
Miss Toucan’s little sister:“MONEY!!!” [Hand to little Sis]
Me:[Hand envelope to Daddy Toucan]
Daddy Toucan: I can’t take that. I’m older than you.
Me:[thinking hmm…my co-worker really should have told me that I’m only supposed to hand out envelopes to people younger than me…]
Me:[Hand envelope to Miss Toucan]
Miss Toucan: “I’m not supposed to take that either… we’re equals.”

Crap.

Me: No, I think you really want to take this one.
Miss Toucan:“No, that’s ok.”
Me: [Shove into her hands] That’s ok… just take it.

Pause.

Me:Aren’t you going to open it?
Miss Toucan: Usually we wait a bit. I don’t need to open it here.*

[*Miss Toucan comment: I noticed the envelope felt funny and lumpy. With Mr. Toucan being the jokester he is, I thought he put some joke gift or toy in the envelope.]

Crap. Then, why is her little sister already jumping around with the cash in hand?

Me: Just open it… it’s ok.
Miss Toucan: Fine. [Opens envelope pulls out ring, Jaw drops.]

Perfect.

Me: Mr. Daddy Toucan, with your permission. I’d like to ask Miss Toucan…

Her face is still in shock. [get down on one knee] I see Sister Toucan in the corner of my eye. She’s jumping up and down with her arms flailing. Almost there….

Me: Will you Marry me?
Miss Toucan: [still speechless, head nodding]

I get up and kiss her. [Insert tears]

Me: So…. That’s a yes right?
Miss Toucan: Yes!

I kiss her again. As soon as I let go of her, I hear, “BROTHER!” and was quickly tackled by Sister Toucan. Ouch!

So there it is - the story of the Toucan proposal. Was it in a parking lot? Yes. But, was it something so memorable, that we will never forget it? Yes, always and forever - just like my love for Miss Toucan, who I love and adore with all of my heart.

Problem 6: Miss Toucan told me she was a size 6 ring. She’s really around a 4 and a half…
My thoughts: Ah crap. Here we go again…