Say Anything (but preferably “yes”)

Remember when I threatened to do do this? (That’s a link. Click on it.)

Well, I did it.

Here’s what you need to know: Lauren LOVES the movie Say Anything. Possibly because I’m the one who introduced her to it a long time ago, possibly because it’s just a really good movie. But in any event, she LOVES it.

The day after Lauren and I started dating, I informed Teri that I knew how I was going to propose to her, should the chance arise. I also told Matt, because I figured if anyone would be able to find a 1980s-style boombox, it would be him. He failed.

Lauren and I have known for a while that we’re going to get married, because let’s face it, you just KNOW. We’d talked about it, we’d even gone ring-shopping. We decided that it was best to wait until Joseph was over, due to all of the crap that was already happening in the cast because of our relationship (ie, “Can you use your relationship with Jeremy to get me a bigger part?). We also decided we wanted to be officially engaged before youth theatre starts for the fall, because being asked a million times “Are you getting married?” was not sounding too fun. That gave us a window of about 12 days.

Lauren knew it was coming, and I STILL completely surprised her.

Here’s a rundown of events:

Sometime in June: I ask Matt to help me find a boombox
Sometime in July: Lauren tells me that she does not want a public proposal, nor does she want her family involved. Drat! There goes my idea, since I can’t stand outside her window. I start brainstorming for other ideas. Nothing works for me, though. I’ve GOT to find a way to make it work. Heather recommends that no matter what, I have somebody there to take pictures of the proposal so that we have the moment recorded.
Throughout August: We go ring shopping to get ideas. Lauren narrows it down to three choices and leaves it up to me to pick the one.
Friday, August 21 (afternoon): I ask Heidi to help me, because Matt was having no luck, and neither was I.
Friday, August 21 (evening): Joseph is FINALLY over. Lauren comes to my house, where the ring had just arrived, and I have to be sneaky in order to look at it.
Saturday, August 22: I show up at Lauren’s house to have a relaxing evening with her family, and when I get there, Say Anything is on, so the idea is fresh in their heads.
Sunday, August 23: I spend the ENTIRE day with her family, and I feel like part of it. I feel like I’m bonding with her dad, which is good, because I haven’t known him like the rest of the family.
Monday, August 24: I text Amber Kaye and ask her if we can have a Rocky Horror night at her house on Thursday, but it’s really a front for a proposal. She is STOKED. What kind of sick freak proposes on Rocky Horror night? ME. Lauren is OBLIVIOUS. Amber is officially in on the plan and goes out of her way to help me. She even joins the hunt for a boombox.
Tuesday, August 25: Wrench! I’m in faculty meeting at school, and I find out that I’m expected to attend back to school night on Thursday. Department Chair tells me that I don’t HAVE to go if I already have plans. Crisis averted. I go to the SCERA costume shop and rent a trenchcoat. I buy Lauren’s dad, Randy, a 2 liter of Coke, because we’re from a culture that doesn’t use champagne/wine for things like this. I sit down with him and ask for his blessing to marry his daughter. He seems genuinely happy/excited and asks when I’m going to propose. I tell him Thursday, but Lauren doesn’t know. He tells me about his proposal to his wife, Emily. We have a genuinely great conversation. Lauren knows that the proposal is coming, but has NO idea when.
Wednesday, August 26: I tell Heather of my plans for a proposal, and she gives me one last big pointer for how to make it more special. Lauren and I go to a good-bye dinner with Heather & David and Wendy & Dave, because H&D are going back to NY in the morning. I show up to get Lauren with a bunch of roses and a card which reads “Dear Lauren, I’ll always be there for you. All the love in my heart, Jeremy.” Lauren gets the Say Anything reference, which also puts the idea of Say Anything completely in her head again.
Thursday, August 27 (morning): Amber texts everyone for Rocky Horror night, letting everyone know that we’re bbqing and watching the movie starting at 7:15. Lauren is planning to go over early to help Amber get the food ready. She invites me, but darnit! I have a meeting with my department chair, and I probably won’t be there until right at 7:15. Also, they still may try and get me to go to back to school night, so we’re crossing our fingers.
Thursday, August 27 (afternoon): Lauren tells me that she’s getting all ready. DOES SHE KNOW?! HAS SHE FIGURED IT OUT?! I tell her that I appreciate that she’s getting ready for Rocky Horror night. I go to my meeting with Department Chair and stop by Teri’s on the way. She likes the ring, and is excited for what’s coming. Her mom also gives her approval, and Bristol and Kiva (sp?) think it’s “pretty.”
Thursday, August 27 (late afternoon): WRENCH!!! Lauren’s brother, Phillip, offers to come and help Amber with food early as well. Amber calls me in a panic. I text Phillip: “Call me right now and don’t let Lauren know, please.” He calls, and I explain the situation. He seems genuinely thrilled, with such exclamations as “nice!” I finish my meeting, run some errands, and then drive around near Amber’s house until I get a text telling me that Lauren is there and they’re ready.
Thursday, August 27 (early evening): I get to Amber’s house and get set up. I never found the boombox, so I have my iPod boombox. Batman is now officially a part of my proposal, since his logo is on my iPod. The Beatles play a part as well, because Lauren mentioned that she loves my yellow submarine shoes, and since I don’t have any white sneakers like Lloyd Dobler, I wear them. I position myself in the middle of Amber’s backyard and text her, telling her that I’m ready. She tells Lauren that she’s got to light the bbq, and comes outside. I crank “In Your Eyes”, but my boombox isn’t very loud! Lauren could hear it, but couldn’t tell what it was. Amber calls for her. Lauren walks out with a puzzled look on her face. She sees me, and gets a MORE puzzled/happy look on her face.

She realizes what’s happening, and grabs the railing to keep from falling over.

She comes to me, and I put the boombox down, but leave it playing softly.

I tell Lauren how much she means to me, how much I love her, and how I want to take care of her forever if she’ll let me.

I pull out the ring, but my hands are shaking, and the pocket on the coat is DEEP. I fumble a little before getting it out. I get down on one knee and open it, and Lauren is overcome with emotion.

I ask her to marry me, and she says “yes” without hesitation. Before I can actually give her the ring, she kisses me.

My shaking hands fumble to get the ring on her finger, but it’s a perfect fit.

We embrace, and after snapping a few shots, Amber BOLTS into the house to give us privacy.

We had some time alone for a while, and then came into the house, where Amber was waiting to take a few more pictures. Chris had arrived by this time, too. He had BARELY missed the proposal. Poor guy.

We called Lauren’s family, and her little sisters FREAKED OUT. Very excited. Then I spent forever trying to get my phone to send a picture of the ring with the caption “Hey- what are you doing December 19?” to my family. It finally went through (darn Amber’s cellular black hole!) and then I started telling friends.

Lauren’s brothers, Phillip and Nick, showed up and when I answered the door, they both hugged me. I love those guys.

We had an amazing dinner (thanks, Amber and Chris!) and watched Rocky Horror. Only Chris and I had seen it. Everyone else was watching for the first time. (Don’t worry, I edited it for Nick.) It was a blast. During the movie, people tried to call me and text me about the engagement, but like I said, Amber’s house is a black hole. I finally gave up on trying to tell friends and was going to wait until the morning.

After the movie, Phillip took Nick home, and Lauren and I showed the photos to her parents. We then took Phil to get slushes and drive around listening to music for a while.

This morning, the news was out. I told Phillip that he was welcome to tell anyone. Nick took the liberty of sharing, too. I’m glad they’re excited. I went ahead and sent the picture out to a bunch of friends, too, and everyone who asked for details was told to wait until I got a blog about it done. So, here you go! :)

I’m so lucky. I love Lauren so much. I can’t wait to be sealed to her forever in less than four months. ACK!!!!! It’s going to be the longest four months of my life, but SO worth it.

Love you, Lauren!

December 19!!!