One Thing's For Sure

"Flight's delayed," Kate said. "And I don't think we'll be able to make our connecting flight."

"What the hell are we supposed to do?" I asked.

"I don't know.  I've been trying to contact Southwest," she said.  "We might have to stay in Atlanta & catch the first flight out to Richmond tomorrow."

That was still fresh in my mind when we went through security at the San Diego airport.  Until, a TSA officer asked to randomly search my suitcase.

"Oh, umm, sure," I muttered & my heart began to race.  

Please don't pull out that little black box, I shouted out to him in my mind.  

Lucky for me, I packed in it the right compartment of my bag & Kate nor the security guy took it out.  We put our shoes back on, sat down & I took a deep breath.

"Ahh, yeah!" Kate yelled.

"What?"

"Bryce & Nicole live in Atlanta, & said we can stay with them tonight!"

Wow- dodged another bullet, I thought.  They were also friends from the Outside Lands San Francisco crew & happened to live steps from one of the MARTA light rail stops.  We got in late had a few drinks & crashed in the spare room.  

The next day, Kate & I walked to the Flying Biscuit for breakfast.  That's how you know you're in the South- the biscuits are the main event.  And, they did not disappoint.  It was one of the few times that I ate in Atlanta, but I would definitely go back.

We filled up, went back to the airport & flew into Richmond where Kate's friend Ashley drove us the five hours to Topsail Island.

The next morning after we got all settled in, I asked Kate to go for a walk & she agreed.  It was great.  Our rental house was right on the beach, so we literally walked out the back door, past the hot tub, on to the sand.  

It was still early with barely any clouds in the sky or any other people around.  We turned around some miles from the house when I went for the little black box.  The box was cheap that came with the ring. It pulled apart instead of snapped, like a clam shell.  I was working to get it out of my pocket without Kate noticing.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Nothing."

She walked ahead of me & finally I got it free.  When she turned around next, I was down on one knee.

"Kate, we've been together a long time & I know you're the one for me..."

"Oh my God!  What?  Oh my God!" she said.

The answer was yes.  

That's the advice I've always given anyone in the same situation- make sure that she'll say yes- that's all that matters.  

This is the re-enactment photo that we took later that day.  I think her friends were all just as shocked as she was when she came back with a beautiful diamond ring that was too small to wear.