"The Proposal Weekend: Part II"

10/10/2002

Saturday:
Celly and I woke early, showered and headed off to breakfast so that our room guests could sleep a bit longer. When we came back upstairs only one of them had stirred. I pleated my kilt and Celly's arisaid. Soon enough we were heading out the door towards MDRF. We managed to get a decent parking space. After I put on my belt, jerkin and hat I led my lady over to greet the other early arrivals.

Even while greeting people that I haven't seen in almost a year, I'm counting noses. You see, I picked eleven other Rogues to join me in rogueing Celly, at the end of which I would propose. I find Ani and she tells me the roses she got (Thank you Ani!) are pink and hidden in the Wench Hostel. Then Celly runs off to help someone with a gig (they let her sing so she was off like a shot). Ray and Sharon show up while I'm still outside the gates so we all go in and head for the Dragon Inn. The Inn is already crowded with people. I introduce Celly to some people that she hadn't met yet and then we run off to get soup in a bread bowl. Having finally accounted for all my Rogues, I relax with some clam chowder for a few minutes while MrWhizzr runs off to buy a white rose for me to present.

All too soon, it's time. I know it's time because I keep getting faintly hidden signals from people making the not-too-obvious gesture of pointing at their wrists and raising their eyebrows questioningly. I started shooing people over towards the chapel and when all my Rogues are accounted for, I delivered some quick instructions. I walk back to the Dragon Inn (about 30 feet away) and look for Celly. I tell her we're going to do a rogueing of Capi (one of the visitors from California) and she needs to hurry if she wants to see it.

Little did I know that my own actions had given me away. Well, that and her suspicious nature. Apparently she had already told her sister that she thought I was going to propose that weekend. Damn, it's gonna be harder than I thought to get away with stuff around her. *eg*

There were at least 50 people gathered to witness the event. I dragged her through the crowd and made some pretense at searching for Capi. Then I turned to her and said, "Oh well, I guess we'll just have to do you.".

She froze and proclaimed, "But you already did me!".

"I didn't." I replied.

I guess it's true that knowing about something and experiencing it can be completely different. I led her to the center and then took my place in the rogue circle. Andre went first. Then Mark the English Rogue, Josh, and Cronnacht approached my beloved and said either sweet or naughty things to her -- sometimes both! The Dread Pirate Russell stole a page from Cronnacht by approaching with the rose sticking out of his belt. Seamus was sweet and I'm pretty sure Lance was naughty. Angus McCastor was probably naughtier though. Drake recited a poem about tobacco (you have to know him to really understand it.) and MrWhizzr kissed her. Raymond was the last one to present her with a pink rose and he also kissed her.

I stood in my spot and said, "Well, finally! It's about time." You see, I told the Rogues that the only limits were what her body language told them. Maybe she just didn't start to relax until that late, but when MrWhizzr kissed her, Cronnacht started complaining and suggesting more roses and a second go-round. I told him, "I can't help it if you dinna follow instructions, lad!".

Ani said that since everyone knew what I was planning it was "like putting her up there in her wedding dress" so nobody was going to get too risque with her. I guess she was right. I just wanted Celly to have the best possible rogueing -- one of legends.

Now it was my turn. I didn't have a cemented plan, but I had run several scenarios through my head in preparation for this day. Bowing, removing my hat, what to say, how to move... naturally they all leaked right out at that very moment.

I went forward, handed her the white rose and then took all of the roses from her. These I handed off to my official FlowerGrrl, Ani. Then I took Celly's hand and raised it up over our heads. Slowly I walked her around in a circle -- so that everyone could see her -- keeping my eyes on hers the whole time. When we came back to our original starting positions, I stepped close to her and said, "I love you so very much." Then I started tearing up and losing it. I managed to keep myself under control, but the strength of all that emotion surprised me. I realized that I had better get to the question before I completely forgot how to speak English.

The change to her face when I said, "I talked to your parents yesterday." was like night and day. Her mouth came open, her eyes went wide and she almost burst into tears right then. Thankfully she didn't because I didn't have any plan at all for dealing with THAT. Somehow I managed to spit out that her parents had given us their blessing. I was quickly degenerating into grunts and animal noises at this point.

While I fumbled in my pouch for the ringbox, I said "So I have just one question to ask you now." I knelt down on my left knee. I lifted her left hand to my eye level and whispered, "Will you marry me and be my wife?" (At least that what I think I said. I was concentrating on breathing so much that the details are a little fuzzy at this point.) Celly choked out a small "Yes." Thinking I might not have heard her, she added "Yes, I will." in a just barely discernible voice. But I heard it.

I stood up, hugged her and the crowd shouted out three "Hip-hip-huzzahs!" I heard that we stopped a show on a stage about 200 feet away. Oops. I guess nobody else heard her answer because while I was hugging my new fianceé there was a shout from the crowd, "Is that a yes?!?" Celly cried out a resounding "YES!" which set off a whole new round of cheering from those assembled.

Then many hugs and congratulations happened. Eventually we wandered off with MrWhizzr, Lisa, Todd, Marcy, Ray and Sharon to the wine garden. Todd bought us congratulatory drinks. Well, actually what he said was, "Put your fucking money away!". Heh, who am I to argue with my hot highway lover.

We ended up leaving a little early because it was so crowded and we didn't want to get caught in the parking lot traffic. After going back to the hotel and taking a quick nap, we headed over to a local Italian restaurant to meet up with about a dozen friends. I had made a reservation the weekend before but somehow it got canceled. The manager however was very apologetic and got us a group of tables in a side room away from the regular customers. I think that may have been for his piece of mind more than our comfort though. Dinner was wonderful and the company even better. Soon enough we were all bursting at the seams and ready to retire for the day.