He asked me to marry him on Mardi Gras.
Before, Mardi Gras was just another Tuesday. In the faraway state of Louisiana, revelers drank too much, flashed skin for beads, partied in raucous waves. I never paid attention, oblivious to the meaning of the day, the last great blowout before forty days of Lent-fueled deprivation.
We met at a restaurant. Hello and Hi led to a stood-up lunch (me to him), an actual lunch (yay), several months of games (him to me), and an epic New Years Eve kiss that lasted more than a day.
I should’ve known he’d ask me to marry him on a random holiday.
We met at the same restaurant to mourn its last day. I was late. He led me to the table where I sat when he uttered that first Hello. This time, he sat opposite me, together at the same two-top.
Tiffany-blue box between us. I should’ve seen it coming but I gaped, teared up, hyperventilated.
“Will you marry me?” He asked.
His hands shook with the ask, like he thought I might say anything but yes. I steadied them, linked fingers, and joined our lives on one messy, exhilarating ride. World travel everyone remarks upon. Bold, scary career changes that aren’t always what they seem. A doctor telling me he doesn’t know how long I’ll have quality of life.
My husband wasn’t making light when he murmured, “Do any of us know how long we’ve got?”
This Mardi Gras, I think I’ve finally learned to laissez bon temps rouler with each new breath. Another finished day with the man I love. Life is a gift.
15 Comments
Yep. Great story and a great photo. Glad to be on the periphery, like a water skier swinging wide for velocity. Good stuff.
Find a Gearhart version of king cake today!! 🙂
I love this story!
Me too. I love yours, too. 🙂
You are an adorable couple. Happy fat proposal day! Wishing you both many days, weeks and years to enjoy the gift of life.
Thank you. Enjoy your freezing day.
Until I started dating a gal from Metairie, all of what you just said was a foreign culture. Now I know about the baby Jesus in a King cake, how to eat a crawfish, cook jumbalaya, and gonna marry that gal some day.
EEE! Very exciting! Have you asked her?
Yes I have. Lisa warned me that she might freak out if I did ask her about marry me but she did not. And she did say yes.
?????? when are you getting married?!?
December of next year.
I’m really happy for you. I know you haven’t had the easiest road. Please keep me updated on all the planning!!
Thanks, Andra. I will keep you updated and send you an invite to the wedding.
I’ve heard your story before and I could hear it again and again. It’s romantic and sweet and really touching. 🙂 And that photo is gorgeous. Special, Andra.
Thank you. ❤️
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