The pre-FHEs

"Impulsive" is not the first word that I would use to describe myself, usually.  But the past couple of Monday nights have made me pause to think, if only briefly.

The weekend of the eleventh of September was when Neal and I first started making veiled hints at marriage.  Sunday the twelfth, we stated it explicitly and started planning.  Well, now that we were decided that we were going to be a family together, going to family home evening with a bunch of new people in the ward seemed a little superfluous.  That Monday, I had tried to get my finger sized for a ring during a break between classes, and Neal texted me the suggestion that we go to Orem that evening.  So we found ourselves at Wilson's Diamonds.  I did use the finger-sizing keyring, but of course my eyes were drawn to one of the display cases that housed all kinds of the simple, white gold rings that I liked.  One ring stayed on my finger and under my adoring gaze for about five to seven minutes, so it was decided.  That was the one, and Neal signed the contract to pay that evening.  Perhaps a little bit more expensive an FHE than we had bargained for. 

The next (probably premature) step in the process was finding a place to live.  I had been researching compulsively since about the time we picked out the ring and making note of the apartments that I liked and the associated contact information.  FHE on Monday the 20th was supposed to be a drive around Provo to check out some of the listings I had collected, but the streak of blessed coincidences would not be broken.  We drove to a secluded part of Provo by the river and saw a For Rent sign.  Neal and I walked all around the advertised apartment and peeked into all the windows we could reach.  After a quick survey, I called the number on the sign and immediately started talking to the landlady about our interest in the place.  We met with her in person, and she told us that another person had talked about putting down a security deposit, but that she would call us later that evening if she and her husband decided they had spent too long waiting for the money.  And then, of course, walking through Smiths just an hour or so later, Neal and I received the phone call telling us that the apartment was ours for the taking.  We brought the security deposit down to the landlady and talked about when we should move Neal in and whether or not we could prorate October.  And that's how we came upon housing during our second FHE, before we were even officially engaged.

You know, though, I have thought about it, and I don't think this is impulsiveness at all.  I don't feel like I'm living life at all precariously, just that I'm making decisions that have to be made, and fast.  Everything is falling into place, and I'm just waiting for the surprise to hit me in the face one of these days.  If it ever does.

Tomorrow we're spending FHE looking for basic furniture.  Something tells me we might have something for Neal to sleep on in the new apartment before the week is over.

Foundation Laid

To preface the story, Neal and I met working at Leading Edge, the science fiction and fantasy journal published by BYU.  We were humble slush readers, spending at least two nights each week (and sometimes Saturday mornings) bemoaning the reveling in the short stories sent our way.  Perhaps I'll post more about how we met and started dating, but for right now, it's enough to know that no one at Leading Edge had any clue we were dating (we thought it would be more fun to sneak hand-holds under the table than to announce our relationship publicly to them) and that Leading Edge has a tradition of writing "Today is ______ Day" on the white board, obviously changing with movie premiers, holidays, and other themes.

So, Tuesday, September 21, 2010.  I had been studying in the library after school from 5:00 until 7:30, when LE starts.  I hadn't seen Neal all day and was slightly disappointed that I would once again have to pretend that we were no more than casual acquaintances after such a long day (I start work at 8:00 AM, just for your information.  Nearly every day is that long).  I walked up the stairs to the writing room, where Neal was sitting closest to the door, and I took the open seat to his right.  On the board he had written "Today is Multiple* Day(s)", with the asterisk referenced in another part of the board: "Will be explained later."

To be honest, I knew what was going on, and I knew that his proposal was going to happen tonight.  I got nervous initially about having our reveal of our relationship be asking for my hand in marriage, and I turned pretty clammy and excused myself to the bathroom to wash up a bit.  I came back up to the slush room and pretended to read "Seeking Kailash," which I had been working on for weeks and was only about halfway through.  Around 8:15, some voice around the table asked for the explanation with the asterisk, and Neal stood up.  My heart raced.  Apparently, we were both shaking at this point in time.

Neal erased "Multiple" from the board and rewrote the greeting to say "Today is Harvest Day."  He explained that this was one of the days fall equinox can land on in a year and that it was also the anniversary of when the angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith and told him that the harvest where we may begin to reap the rewards of what had been sown had begun.  This theme has personal significance to both Neal and me, and that's enough for divulging on this blog.  I knew what he was talking about, and everyone else kind of nodded and went along with it.

Neal erased this message and then changed the message to "Today is The Twist that No One Saw Coming Day."  Needless to say, he didn't do too much explaining on this point.  Everyone in the room provided their own witty commentary and movie references, as per usual.  I'm sure I heard something about "Inception" at some point in this brief conversation.

Finally, Neal erased the message one last time, writing on the board, "Today is Nyssa, Will You Marry Me? Day."

The room fell completely silent.  No one knew what to make of this; I'm sure they were wondering whether or not it was a joke.  Then Neal walked over to my chair, got down on one knee and presented me the ring box.  I'm sure he said something at that point, but my brain was so completely addled and racing that I don't much remember what was said after that, except that Joe thought that this was indeed a great twist.  I have yet to see Peter's reaction.  But really, still the most perfect moment and method I could have asked for.

Dear Neal,
You are amazing and I love you.  Let's get married or something.
--Nyssa

Info:
December 28, Oakland Temple.  Receptions still TBA.

Update:

I think that about sums it up.