The Proposal
Our first date was May 15, 2010 - a week after Brent had returned from a trip to London and Paris. While in Paris, he had picked up some French chocolates (champagne-filled truffles). He gave them to Lisa as a gift when they first met at the Sweetwaters Cafe on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor. It was there that Brent and Lisa discovered their shared fondness for chai tea lattes. The conversation was flowing so well that Brent extended an offer to grab dinner nearby. As the local, Ann Arbor resident, Lisa suggested Sava’s on State. A great choice as, not knowing each others food likes and dislikes, the menu appeals to a varied palette. But, we digress…
Exactly ten months later, on March 15, 2011, we were engaged! Brent planned it so well, that even though Lisa anticipated the moment, it still took her by surprise. That day, before driving to Ann Arbor after work, Brent stopped at Westborn Market and bought two dozen roses and two chocolate truffles. Then, he hit the road, making a detour at the same Sweetwaters Cafe from the first date where he picked up two chai tea lattes. Arriving at Lisa’s a few minutes later than planned, Brent brought in the flowers and chocolates. Dinner reservations were for 7pm, so the flowers were placed in a vase, chocolate admired (but not consumed) and off we went. Lisa was in the dark about the dinner plans, until Brent offered her a chai latte as we began the drive. Then, she started to piece everything together. We enjoyed dinner in a semi-private booth at Sava’s. On a side note, we thought our server that night was a doppelganger of SNL cast member, Bill Hader. But, we digress (again)…
We boxed half our meals for the next day’s lunch and went home. Arriving back at Lisa’s condo, Brent had some items to bring inside from his car. One of them was a brown box. Lisa immediately took notice of this and asked, “What is that?” Brent responded, “Oh, this was on my doorstep today. I was in such a rush to get here, I brought it with and thought we could open it together.” Lisa seemed satisfied with that explanation. Important side note: Brent had been entering many sweepstakes in an attempt to win an iPad, so Lisa thought this box was just another consolation prize (previous wins had included an autographed football by Chad “Ochocino” Johnson and a beer-making kit). Back in Lisa’s condo, Brent asked for a pair of scissors. Lisa then opened the box and, to her surprise, found an iPad! Brent acted the part and was in shock, too…until, he opened the iPad box and turned on the device. Lisa’s mood quickly went from elation to disbelief, and there may have been a slight, gentle shove with the accompanying phase, “No you didn’t!”
But, did he had done. Brent had bought an iPad, filled it with photos of their time together, and set a slideshow to the song “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” sung by Carole King and accompanied by James Taylor (the concert was our 3rd date). The only sweepstakes Brent ever wanted to win was Lisa’s hand in marriage.
…and she said “YES!”