John And Francie

So John and I went on a vacation to Chicago for a week, in between my cousin Lisa’s wedding in Kalamazoo and his friend Laura’s wedding in Toledo. It was the best vacation ever!!  Monday June 30 we were at Buckingham Fountain. We had spent a marvelous, fun day in the city going up the Sears tower, going to the aquarium, and eating yummy food at ‘Taste of Chicago.’ My friends, Cristin and Maria had already left to go home, but we decided we wanted to hang out a little longer and see the fountain light display. So we hung out around the Taste a little longer and listened to the music there, then wandered back along Lakeshore to the fountain. We just happened to get there at the exact same time the light show was starting. It was very beautiful, they were playing patriotic music for the 4th, and the fountain lights would change from yellow to red to purple, with blue and green at the top, and the water jets would spray different ways and up really high with the music. It was very pretty and romantic. We were taking pictures of the fountain and each other, when he said, “I think if I get down here I can fit you and the fountain and the skyline all together.” So I posed and smiled as he got down on one knee, but instead of taking a picture, he said “But first I have a question for you,” and reached into his pocket. I think my heart about stopped, and I’m thinking, “oh my gosh, is this what I think it is?!” And it was, he pulled out my gorgeous ring he had picked out for me, it was even more beautiful than I had remembered! My eyes got huge and I smiled, frozen for a second as he started, “Will you…?”. I was able to move again and took the ring and blurted, “Have you had this in your pocket all day?!” He said yes and I laughed and put it on and hugged and kissed him and started crying I was so happy. He smiled and said “So I take that as a yes?”. And I said, “Yes! Goodness that would be good to say, Yes Yes!” And we said “I love you’s” and hugged and kissed more, and watched more of the pretty fountain show. And I cried more and he laughed at me and said, “I take it those are happy tears?” and I assured him they were VERY happy tears. We took a few pictures and had someone take a picture of us. We walked over to Grant park and sat in the grass while i called my family. Then we walked back the brown line to take back to Cristin’s apartment. I think I stared at my ring the whole way, and we talked about a few fun wedding things, including possibly getting married this May. When we got to Cristin’s we decided to not tell her right away, but wait and see if she noticed it. It took her about 10 minutes and finally John coming over next to me and casually tapping the ring with his finger for her to see, and she screamed and was excited and we told her all about it. We opened a bottle of white merlot I had bought earlier to celebrate and had fun sitting around and calling more friends.   The rest of the vacation was a blast, including going on a riverboat tour, to Navy Pier and the ferris wheel, shopping along the Magnificent Mile, having drinks at the Signature Lounge at the top of the John Hancock tower, going to the Museum of Science and Industry, biking along Lake Michigan, going to Lincoln Park Zoo, seeing fireworks twice, having a relaxing BBQ and pool day, and a lot of great hanging out with new and old friends.   YAY Chicago!