The Proposal

Austyn’s Story

I was able to surprise Brian by flying in to CO a day early for that August visit. Ryan and his girlfriend at the time, Ashley, picked me up from the air-port Saturday morning. I called Brian as I was standing outside the house, waiting at the door. I said in the middle of, “I wish I was there now (all that ladeda love stuff that everyone does),” “me too”… I then threw in, “so you wanna come answer the door?” He just laughed pathetically and said, “yeah… that would be nice.” So… I knew he wasn’t going to get up. I walked into the house, and knowing he only has good reception in his room, on his bed, I began to walk towards his room and stood at the end of this bed. He was laying on this back and then started realizing that he could hear my voice not only in the phone; he looked up. And then screamed (a masculine scream… ya know the deal). He was ecstatic – and I can only image what was going through his brain; because also that night (remember, I wasn’t suppose to be there), he was going to meet up with Matt and Nicki to plan what they were going to do for the proposal. Ah. Plans changed real fast – and they didn’t skip a beat. And I, having no clue, was so estatic that I surprised Brian… having no clue that he had a surprise of his own.

This was going to be the first time we were going to be in the same place for more than 3 weeks. It was very exciting, but a lil nervose for me. I was fearing that he was going to realize throughout the 3 weeks that he was sick of me… I had no idea he was all ready and going to ask me to marry him.

Brian had class everyday till 2, so I kept myself busy during the days. So Tuesday morning, I got a call from our friend Nicki, asking if I would be interested in hiking with her and Matt in the Rockie Mountain National Forest on Thursday. I was completely thrilled. "Of course I would!" So they were going to pick me up Thursday morning at 10.

Thursday came and Matt and Nicki arrived at Brian’s Parents (where I was staying). We got in the jeep and started our journey up to Estes Park. We ate subway for lunch. While sitting at the table eating, Matt and Nicki asked, “how does a Brian let a girl know he likes her?”… of course I smiled (cause I’m the girl in the story). And after trying to analyze the answer for the question, I simply said, “I think that Brian just makes up his mind – and then lives it. There really isn’t a conversation or something he says to let you know. You just all the sudden find yourself in the middle of it… and it ends up being wonderful.”

Once we got up in the mountains at the bottom of the train, Matt instantly started booking it. (Now… it’s a lot harder to breath in high altitude, especially if your not use to it. Hiking fast and low oxygen makes one tired.) I kept up pretty well, though. Matt in front of me, Nicki behind me. Matt kept saying, “so, storms roll in between 2 and 3 – and I really want you to see this spot. Then we can come back down slower and take more pictures.” (He was in a little rush) So we continued to book it. I did pretty well. But at point, we had to cross this little log bridge – I was scared I was going to fall into the water – the lack of oxygen was making me a lil dizzy. But I made it.

We reached this point where Matt lead us through some rocks to hike around. Matt turned to me and handed me the pack that he had carried up and said, “I’ll give this to you. Nicki and I like to play around these rocks” (I thought he was being a little prudent; but I was okay with it. It was just a little odd. But I took it with emphises, like “alright! I can do this! Just strap this backpack on me like a pro and watch me go.”) So we went a little further, Matt in front of me, Nicki behind me. Nicki, again, talking, trying to keep my mind away from questioning things – she did pretty well. Then Matt stops. Turns around and looks at me. I look at him, wondering why we stopped. Then look down, there was a rose! I got so excited. I looked at him with intent eyes trying to convey, “did you set something up for Nicki?!?!?” I was so excited. And somehow I was apart of it! This is so cool! Then I looked at his response, which was with a shrug, “I don’t know why this is here.” So I shrugged as well and got sad that someone left a rose here, all alone. Who would do such a thing? Unless it was left for someone to find…

As all this was going through my head, I was completely unaware of what Nicki was talking about. She then comes up behind me, kisses my cheek and says really softly, “follow the path.” I then looked down at the rose, then looked up to see both of them with lil sweet smirks on their faces, holding hands and turning and walking away (that would be the last time I would see them till later that night). I knew at that point that Brian was there. I picked up the rose… turned the corner. No Brian. But instead another rose. I kept walking, picking up roses and feeling really silly because I knew that someone (Brian) was watching me, but I had no idea where he was. I also had not put together that he was purposing. Again, complete oblivion. I just thought it was just another sweet thing Brian was doing. But I did think, as I have also thought before, that if Brian would purpose to me right then, that this would be a picture perfect way. But I really didn’t think he was going to.

As I was collecting the roses, I noticed that the next one was on top of this really large, tall boulder. “What?” I really didn’t think I could make it up that. But then I said to myself, “If Brain thinks I can make it up that. Than I can do it.” So I took the pack off and threw it on top. Then managed to scramble up. Brian was standing there with the last rose in his hand. He was holding another things behind his back. It was a book. The night before I asked if he would tell me the story of us again. He responded, I can do that; How about tomorrow night? Well… he put together a book that has pictures of our story and wrote words to them. So I sat down on a rock, he still standing and I began reading the book aloud. It was so cute – I loved it. Then came the last few pages:

“...and the best part of it all…” (next page)

“that this is only the first chapter,”

As I turned the next page, there was one last picture, with no words. It was the ring.

My heart stopped. I couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t what was really going on, was it? Brian then knelt down and opened the ring box and said, “Austyn, I love you. And want to spend the rest of my life playing with you. Will you marry me?”

AH! What? Ah. Wait… what’s going on? What? Are you sure? – I didn’t hear a word that he said, except for “love. Play. And for the rest of my life.” I was so flustered. So flustered. Everything was flashing before my eyes. I didn’t think I would be cry– I was crying. I then realize I hadn’t responded. I said… well, I think I forgot how to speak for a second, because I could only node. Then finally got out, “yes. Yes.” And grabbed the ring out of the box and put it on myself. When I realized that I put it on myself, I looked at Brian and said in more flusteredness, “oh. No. you were suppose to do that weren’t you?!?” He kissed me and said, “its okay.” I said, “no.” so I took it back off to then made him put it back on me. If I had already been having some problems with lack of oxygen – it had only gotten worse. He brought up strawberries, and two camping wine glasses. We sat there. Talked and laughed. Took pictures. Told each other’s stories. It then began to all come together…

So we then hiked the 3.something miles down the mountain, holdings hands, and were engaged. We talked about everything that we hadn’t really been able to talk about or bring up – where are we going to live? Where do you want to get married? When do we get a dog? …Kids?... all those awesome important things.

On our drive back home, we stopped to purchase me a dress and shoes for reservations that Brian made at a Sushi bar for that night; Matt and Nicki were going to meet us there. It was a wonderful night. A wonderful day. Golly gee.

Oh. And I almost forgot. The ring – it was his great grandmother’s wedding ring. His grandmother also wore it for a short time as her engagement ring. Its beautiful. And I feel so honored to have that kind of legacy placed upon my hand.


Thanks to Matt and Nicki, and Grandma Barrington.

*** if you would like to see pictures taken of the day, feel free to visit: http://interiordesign.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005992&l=db1fa&id=138701382
enjoy!