Exciting News…

Brett and I are engaged!!!

We’ve been talking about the possibility of getting married for a while now, but it wasn’t until about a month or so ago that we actually started discussing it with seriousness. We did some ring browsing and investigated the different options that we both like. I knew that Brett and I had basically decided on a ring, but I was under the impression that we would be waiting until after returning home from Egypt and Jordan before making the final decision and purchase. Instead, I had a wonderful surprise this evening!

After a long and stressful day at work, Brett picked me up and we decided to go to Four Brothers, a very good pizza and pasta restaurant, in Darien. After a satisfying dinner, Brett wanted to go somewhere where we could see the rise of the solstice moon, which is apparently supposed to be a beautiful sight. He asked where I thought we could best see both the sun set and the moon rise. I suggested we go to Bailey Beach, in Rowayton, because of the pretty and mostly unobstructed view. When we arrived at the beach, it became almost immediately clear that it would basically be impossible to see the moon rise, although we could still see a partial sunset. Brett thought that we might have been able to walk out on to the “point” area on the beach, but the tide was not low enough to do so. I suggested that we leave to find a better location for viewing the rising moon, but Brett suggested we stay and relax because it would have been too late to get back in the car and find a better location. So, instead, we sat at a picnic table in a gazebo / porch area and watched the sunset and just had a chance to enjoy each other’s company. After a VERY busy couple of days, it was a really nice way to unwind.

We knew that the beach closed at 9pm, and as it neared this time most people began to leave the area. At 8:50pm, the beach gate guard made his rounds to tell lingering people like us that the beach would be closing in 10 minutes. Once he left, and Brett and I were virtually the only two people still at the beach, he revealed to me that it was no coincidence that we came to Bailey Beach – he knew me well enough to know that I would have suggested it as the best place to go to “view the moon rise,” which I soon found out was not our reason for visiting the beach. We discussed the fact that we had some really nice memories at Bailey Beach, especially with Data, as it was the site of his first beach and water experience.

It was at this time that Brett got off of the bench where we had been cuddling together, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him. It was such a beautiful and wonderful surprise – and of course, I said yes.

Well, there it is! I couldn’t be more excited right now; we’re engaged, and tomorrow we will be going on an exciting two week vacation through Egypt and Jordan. I only wish that my parents and sister were here, and not in Europe, to celebrate with us. However, there will be plenty of time for celebration (and planning) when we return from what I expect will be an amazing vacation.

So, without further ado, the ring: