I have excellent news dear anonymous inter-webber friends! In a magical, wonderful moment in my life...I was properly proposed to! Here's the longer version:

Justin picks me up and we drive down to Jay, for a show that his folk band, Town* M**ting is playing. We arrive late, per usual, and he does his sound check. I visit with his mom and auntie and sound check ends. Justin bums some tissue from his mom (weird, but he's been sick, so I think whatever) and he asks if I'll go for a walk with him down to the covered bridge. I say sure (keeping my eyes at their proper angles, since we all know how active I enjoy being) We begin our trek down the hill (mind you, I'm wearing some well-heeled shoes and begin to complain about my calves hurting). I look up - and I pronounce the area around us beautiful - and Justin, being amazing, says, "I made it for you." (Then we start this interesting discussion on God and something about a news story about alternate solar systems where an Earth-like planet was found - we totally rock, don't we?!) I can't remember if this was before or after, so I throw it in now - Justin says this area is Thalia-ville... pretty sweet, right? You know, me being "Thalia" and all?

Ahem, so yes, we get down to the bridge and we are remarking at the beauty and the raging river below. We cross the bridge, with sunlight streaming through each crack in the beams. We get to the other side, talk a bit about his parents taking him swimming there when he was younger. I get bored after a bit. Yes. me...I know - aren't you amazed? ha! So I ask if we can go back. We begin to head back across the bridge and he holds my hand. He gently pulls and asks me to stop with my face in the sunlight. I oblige. He begins these calculations: 8 months ago we were driving back from Portland...I was sun poisoned, falling in love with him; 17 months from now is September 24, 2010...(at this point I'm all like wtf - yes, we've talked about *that* day for many moons already!) I don't even remember the exact words after this (guest post open for you Justin, interested?) I see him pull a ring box out of his pocket. I see him get down on one knee and I think I hear him ask me to marry him.

And in my head I'm thinking...really? Me? Oh of course me...of course you. Yes! Yes! Then I hear myself say yes and I begin to thank him (I never claimed to be sane or of normal self-confidence - we all know this already, right?) I thank him for asking me to marry him. Because he's the most amazing man I've ever known. Because my heart was his pretty much from the first time I saw him with Drew. I'm his because I've never fit better with any other human being on this planet - my spirit, my body, my mind...all so, so SO connected with his.

I'm worried about dropping the ring. We go and sit on the bench and I'm constantly hugging him and completely perplexed that someone this awesome just asked if I would like to spend the rest of my life with them! He tells me about the ring (in his lovely, exact manner...with no detail left out) and what makes me cry? His reasoning for a three-stone setting...they represent to him: me, him and Drew. And I immediately tear up - because this generous heart that wants me is so wonderful and I'm so lucky. We spend a few more minutes talking - he tells me that he's been fibbing to me - that my parents were up in town and that he asked for their blessing (yes!) and I think that is the sweetest thing ever. We walk back up the hill (with a bit less complaining from me - I think I may have been floating).

When we walk into the hall, I walk over to his mom and I smile and show her my newly decorated hand. She cries. This makes me very happy - I am very lucky indeed! Justin's aunt cries, everyone in the band is so excited for us... we take a couple pictures...I get to see my parents. It was wonderful - the whole night: listening to the show; meeting people I hadn't met; sitting with my parents and sharing how genuinely happy I am; a wonderful dixie-cup Champagne toast; and all the time amazed at this man who is totally in love with me. It's awesome. Truly.

Justin and I told Drew on Sunday (two days later) by explaining the ring was a symbol. I can't help but wonder what is really going on in that brain of his, but I'm happy that he seems very cool about it. He loves Justin, I'm just not sure he understands the concept yet. He'll get it. We'll get it - as a family. Sharing the news with family and friends over text messages and phone calls, hearing their joy at our happiness - it's just been wonderful.

I feel so calm, so sure about this. I can't wait for my ring to be out of the shop and back where it belongs.