I Can’t See the Ring!
September 17th, 2008 @ 11:57 am by Miss Meatball
Full disclosure: I was that girl. You know, that girl whom, after a number of years of dating/co-habitating, becomes a dreadful nag about engagement. To be clear: I wasn’t the girl who cared about what “people” would think if we didn’t, or about Holy Ceremony, or even about the diamond. I was the girl who wanted to throw a terrific party to celebrate her overflowing love for the boy. But, I was a terrible nag… I admit.
A month or two before our 5 year anniversary, Mr. Meatball gently informed me that he would not be proposing on our anniversary, because he wanted me to enjoy it without expectation or disappointment. It was fair of him, and I was glad to have the pressure taken off. We decided to each take a weekend and plan something special for the other, as our gifts. He had the first weekend, which was that of our actual anniversary.
The Friday morning of that weekend, he laid out clothes for me to wear and woke me at 6AM. I had to be at work at 10:30 but he assured me I wouldn’t be late. I figured, based on the outfit and time, that we were going on an early hike. Then, as we got onto the highway, he had me pull out the directions from the glove box, where I found a AAA travel guide for Baja, Mexico!
Clearly in early morning shock.
He completely surprised me with a trip to San Felipe, on the eastern coast of Baja, along the sea of Cortez. He thought of everything, from packing everything I might need (and more) to making sure I got a manicure and pedicure that week before we left, from lining up a fur-babysitter to getting Friday and Monday off from my bosses. I swear, he’s never been so organized. 
San Felipe was such a beautiful, remote and peaceful place. Our hotel only had 3 rooms, and our room overlooked the pool which overlooked the sea and mountains. It was a block from the beach, and a lazy 2 mile stroll into town. Barely anyone spoke English, so we got to learn a lot of Spanish - everything from ordering more margaritas to bartering for Mexican wares in the shopping bazaar district. The food was amazing, as were the friendly folks that live there. We drank, dined and danced the nights away under a sky full of stars on the gorgeous sea.
Bliss.
Saturday night, the 6th, Mr. Meaty took me to a secluded beach just before midnight, with the bottle of wine he had arranged to have in our room upon arrival. They almost didn’t let us on the beach, as it was closed, but in that moment, I magically knew enough Spanish to say “Today is our 5 year anniversary. We would like to go to the beach and look at the stars. It’s romantic”.
Amazingly, it worked! No one was around for miles and miles…. it was pitch black. Just us, the sky, the sand, and the sound of the waves. We sat and watched the stars, listened to the crashing surf, and reflected back on the last 4 years. Then Mr. MB said, “At midnight, let’s stand up so we can give each other a biiiig hug!” So, at 12:00am it became Sunday, our official anniversary, and at that moment, in between kisses, with the sweetest words ever, he got down on his knee and proposed! It was utterly magical, but all I could say between tears was, “I can’t see the ring!” because it was so dark out, which is too funny because he could have easily given me a lifesaver and I would have said yes! He produced the flashlight, made the bling sing, and I sang too.
Mere moments after it happened…
He designed the ring himself, with a local Los Angeles jeweler (more on that later), and it’s so beautiful! The whole thing was just a fairy tale. Coming home on Monday was bittersweet - as hard as it was to bid Adios to our romantic vacation, we were thrilled to get to come home and share the news with all of our loved ones! Pretty dreamy, eh?
As it happens, he had been planning the trip since February! Poor guy, having to put up with my engagement harassment, all the while having this in his back pocket!
So, there you have it! The proposal that won us a free e-photo session, and my heart of course! I can’t wait to get into details, so stay tuned…..
until then….I leave you with a photo Mr. Meatball took of our doggie, Paco, as he helped pack my suitcase the day before we left.
He clearly wanted to come, too. 
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32 Responses to “I Can’t See the Ring!”
OMG - I TOTALLY got chills!! Love it - way to go Mr. Meaty!
And I love the nickname Mr. Meaty - hehe!
I got teary eyed. What a great proposal story! BTW I love your dog Paco. So cute.
You both look so happy, I love that.
Super awesome engagement story!!! Your dog is so precious!!!
oooh, your story is so sweet! i’ve got a gigantic grin on my face now. thanks for sharing!
What an amazing engagement. Miss. Meatball, you are one lucky lady. Best of luck to you on your big day!
I love Paco! What a great expression on his little face. What kind of pooch is he?
Also love the proposal story - how awesome that he planned a vacation! Congrats
Hmm, maybe I should back off my boy. We’ve been living together for 2 years and I have started to nag some. Really, I want to plan an awesome wedding (with lots of little surprises for him).
This is really really beautiful! I had the same kind of moment in Mexico with Mr. Avocado (who later confessed that he was DYING to propose that night as well) There is just something about the waves crashing around you on the ocean that makes time stand still.
@Meleven: He’s a cavachon. Half cavalier king charles spaniel (like charlottes dog on SATC), half bichon frise. It makes him hypoallergenic and non-shedding. We picked a bichon mix because Mr. MB is allergic to all dogs except Bichons… and the cavalier makes him just the cutest muppet ever!
@Alexa: good luck! I know patience is impossible.
@Avocado: amen, sister.
wow, that picture is priceless and made me tear up! Your dog is too cute!
I knew it! We have a Bichon (love love love him) and I saw some Bichon-ness in his little face. He couldn’t be in our wedding earlier this month because the venue doesn’t allow animals (it was an awesome venue, so it was pretty much okay that the only concession we had to make was no pooch) but we did “in lieu of favors” make a donation to the rescue organization we got him from - Small Paws Rescue! so we had a photo of him & description of the charity’s mission statement. And he was mentioned many times in our ceremony. Ahh. Doggie bliss.
Give him a hug for me!
That is SO sweet….what an incredible story you will have to tell the rest of your lives!
sniffle sniffle . sooooooooo sweet,
the expression on your face in that picture of you and Mr. Meaty brought tears to my eyes. you’re so happy and glowing. congrates <3.
So adorable! And can I just say I am a big fan of your writing style — hilarious, touching, fun.
i love it!! got me teary eyed fo sho!
@Miss Hot Cocoa: Ditto!
and how cute is Mr. Meaty!?! I love that he had to tell it wasn’t going to happen, FH will probably have to do that to me too.
Awwwwwwwww….soooo sweet! Love the whole sitting on the beach, waiting ’til midnight, hug scenario!
Aww, Paco is so cute! That’s a really sweet story — I had a similar situation, with me pushing for the engagement while all the while he was planning a big romantic vacation proposal! Totally worth the wait
super impressed with the good job your mister did with packing all you need behind your back! mine would NEVER have been able to pull that off!
“made the bling sing” is a cute turn on phrase.
you guys look so thrilled in that photo 
oh that’s such a cute story! i am jealous!
Hey girl! I thought you might be Ms. Meatball!!! I’m trying to catch up on my WB reading, and now that you’re cute little mug is posted I know it’s you! Thanks for your kind words about our video. We should gtg and do the “hollywood” thang - you know, “do lunch” 
You still have my email yes?
(and love the proposal story. I had read it on your blog.)
you know you are a bride to be when: you tear up reading of engagement stories from people you’ve never met.
you warm my heart, meatball!
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Miss Meatball, Hollywood
Age and Occupation: 30, Actor/Writer/Office Maven
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Actor/Writer
Engagement Date: October 7, 2007
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: September 16, 2008
Venue: Private Garden/The Bungalow Club
About Me: I love melty cheese and diet coke almost as much as I love my man. I'm from Chicago, he's from NYC, and we both miss public transit and great pizza. We have an adorable muppet dog called Paco. I'm part hippie with a healthy dash of hip hop superstar, have excessive empathy for animals, and have not one, but two bionic eyes (long story). We're broke and it ain't no joke. It can't stop us from planning the bold and whimsical wedding of our dreams, but we've had to get pretty creative to make it work, yo!
That is SUCH an amazing story!