goat cheese...

a little over a year ago i took my very first trip out of the country.  i was going to london to see my boyfriend John.  he was there for a month starring in a puppetry show called THE DEVIL & MR. PUNCH.  my birthday was a few days before and after dinner with my girlfriends i confided in one that i knew i wouldn't be getting engaged while i was there.  i know that's a strange thing to proclaim, but i felt like i had to make it clear that i wasn't expecting anything like that from this vacation.  so many times couples go away and people expect that they will come back engaged.  i didn't want her to feel that i was disappointed when i returned with no ring, because i wouldn't have been.
i've never been one of those girls who was desperate to get married or even in a hurry.   i usually was single, and happy with that.  somehow, in this relationship especially, i was relaxed.  i didn't want to rush anything and was just enjoying every minute.

it had been weeks since i'd seen john.  he grew a huge beard.  it was great just being around him.  the first day i was a waste from the delayed screaming baby infested flight.  i slept. 

the next day we got up early and planned to do all things touristy.  
it was raining off and on all day.  at buckingham palace we both wished on coins and threw them in the fountain.  i wished we'd get engaged this year...which was a huge thing for me to wish, because like i said, i didn't think about it much.  after we went to St. Pauls Cathedral.  they have a whispering gallery there at the very top.  we climbed over 200 stairs and when we reached the top it smelled like goat cheese.  this is a constant theme for us, or me at least.  i HATE goat cheese & for some reason, a lot of things smell like that to me...anyway it seemed like we were sticking around the dome for a pretty long time, but i just figured he wanted to hear things for musical technical reasons.  he asked what to whisper to me, so of course i suggested GOAT CHEESE.  you put your ear to the wall and you can hear people whisper from across the room.  we tried it a few times, and a few times it worked.  but that day, for some reason, there was a choir and what seemed to be a field trip so it was not very quiet.  we were sitting together and eventually he said "i wish there were less people!" i said he always wishes that.  but then john said..."i wish there were less people (got down on one knee) so that you could hear me whisper WILL YOU MARRY ME?"  i was in shock but of course said "YES!"  

we walked back in the rain to the hotel but stopped for some calling cards.  he had to leave me for his show that night, but i was able to call my family & friends and share the news.  that night we met up with the rest of the cast to celebrate.  it was a perfect proposal, perfect night, & perfect trip!