For those of you who don't like long stories, just skip this one- it's very long! (but there are pictures!)
Amir and I have a very long history together- over 10 years together already. We first met in grade 9, started dating in grade 12 & have been together ever since. We’re the best of friends, and together with our adorably crazy cat Bowzer, we have created a life together.
We have talked about marriage and kids plenty, and knew it was in the cards for us, at some point. I was reaching a point were all of my friends were engaged/married/having babies, and here I was, together with Amir for the longest out of any of them, and still only a "girlfriend".
Now I know titles shouldn't mean anything, but simply calling myself a "wife" when we didn't do anything to get there just wasn't sitting well with me. After another endless discussion about marriage and how he didn't really believe in it, and how I could just change my name to fit in with him and our future kids, he finally realized how important it was to me.
My best friend was getting married in the Bahama's in August 2012, and I was to be a bridesmaid for her. Unfortunately, as life would have it, from December 2011- April/May 2012, our finances were stretched to the limit, and we were barely making ends meet (actually weren't- we were selectively paying our bills each month). I told her back in April that we wouldn't be able to come- we had saved up some money but then had to spend it on fixing my car. She told me to just try again, even if it meant I had to come alone (I was a little miffed by this, as Amir and I had never been on vacation together just the two of us, in all these years, and then I was supposed to go to her wedding, by myself, in the Bahama's???). I finally told her in June that it just wasn't possible. It made me so sad to say we couldn't go, but we just weren't going to be able to afford it, and I wouldn't go by myself. Shortly after, we stumbled upon this amazing deal online to go to Dreams Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and we could be there for the week of our 10 year anniversary. We managed to pull together every extra dollar we had, and booked it. Then, I had to tell her we were going on vacation 3 weeks after her wedding. Let's just say, it didn't go over very well.Amir kept telling me to leave it alone, and to talk to her after we came back.I let it go and waited for our vacation to arrive.
The day finally arrived for us to leave on Sept. 13. Of course, we hit every security snag you could at the airport (here in Toronto & in PV). They checked his backpack in Toronto, even reaching in & pulling out his deodorant right in front of me (while he was off to the side getting a full body scan). Amir asked me if they took anything out, to which I laughingly said no. (he asked me again a few more times, but I still wasn’t tipped off). We get to PV, and of course, we get the dreaded red light, so our luggage must be searched. At this point, Amir leans over to the guy, saying he has something in his backpack he doesn’t want me to see. Luckily, the lady checking my bag was quick. I didn’t want the surprise to be ruined at the airport, so I walked further away from him & turned my back.
Now I knew he had something for me- and yet all week, I convinced myself over & over, that it was a bracelet or earrings, not a ring.
On our anniversary (the 18th), we booked a day trip to go on a botanical gardens & local town tour, as well as tequila and raicilla tasting. Afterwards, we were going to have a romantic dinner on the beach at sunset. The concierge asked us to confirm the location of our dinner the day before. On the 17th, Amir went to confirm were the dinner would be, & then told them he would be proposing at the dinner.
After spending the whole day out on our day trip, having an absolutely wonderful time, guided by Leon, the best tour guide ever, we returned to our room to get ready for dinner. They had a fresh fruit plate on the table in our room, as well as a note saying we can call for sparkling wine when we were ready for it, to celebrate our anniversary.
We get to the table on the beach, & it is just beautiful. The sun was just setting. It was the most beautiful array of oranges, reds, purples & blues. I give Amir his card, explaining that though they aren’t in the card, he will be going to the Raptors vs. Lakers game in January. He shakes his head, says “no, we won’t be able to afford it.†A brief argument ensues over yes we can, no we cannot.
Amir mutters to himself “mind as well do this nowâ€, reaches into his pocket & pulls out the ring box. At this point my entire brain goes fuzzy & my vision gets foggy. He opens the box, looks at me & says, “You know how much I love you. We’ve been together for 10 years now, will you marry me?†I stutter out, “Yes, but how? How?â€
Before he can put the ring on, out of the corner of my eye, I see Pedro***(our waiter) walking towards us. I hide the box over my shoulder while he puts our second appetizer down. We laugh & then Amir puts the ring on my finger.
We end up spending almost 3 hours on the beach, just talking, while he explained how he went about doing everything behind my back, preparing for this moment (so many lies!). The resort upgraded our dinner for free, from steak & shrimp to filet mignon & lobster tail.
When we go upstairs to our room, we open the door to see the lights are on low, the window dressings decorated with a flower, rose petals in a heart on the bed & romantic music playing We call down for the sparkling wine, talked some more & then turned our phones on to text our families/friends back home our exciting news (to which 90% of them already knew!). I texted my best friend and told her I had news to share when we came back. When we came back, and I told her, she was just as excited as everybody else, and said she thought that it was going to happen.
Turns out getting engaged mended a few friendships of mine!
***Amusing side story- Amir’s family made the joke before we left that I was going to fall in love with a Mexican man named Pedro & run away with him. It gave us a hilarious moment when he was the one to interrupt our proposal.
poor pedro 
