I'm Engaged!

My life changed dramatically on Thursday, June 14, 2007. My boyfriend proposed to me!

It happened at his home. We enjoyed a glass of wine (something he never usually has chilling in the ice box) and then he presented me with a dozen roses and knelt down to "pop the question". I said YES! We had dinner at the Oxford Inn in Royal Oak afterwards. The Oxford Inn is the place where we met 10 months ago. (On August 14, 2006) It is also funny that we got engaged on Flag Day. We hope to be married in April of 2008.

I must confess I'm still in shock about the whole thing. I've been single for 40 years and I have this strong image in my head of being the single gal who always longed to be married. Now that a guy has come along that is SO good for me and actually wants to keep me, I just don't know how to take it all in!

Because I've been single so long I've had to be very mindful to create a life that I love and not just sit around waiting for guys to ask me out. I really could do most anything I wanted and never had to consider someone else. (Of course I complained endlessly about being "all alone" and I guess I miss the "poor me" vibe I had going on. Funny huh?)

So I have a pretty good idea what "Single Laura" is all about but I'm not sure what "Married Laura" is yet. I know I don't want to be a bride that loses herself in all the crazy plans of a wedding. I'm really not into the wedding because it is only one day and all the hype folks put into making a fairy tale wedding seems empty to me. I'm much more interested in building a good married life together, while still keeping my own unique identity. Not sure how to do that and I've spent little time exploring this idea of what makes a good married life for me. I'm certain I'll figure it out in time.

On a sad note, a few days after my big exciting news about getting engaged I found out a friend/acquaintance of mine died. It is hard to say he was my friend because we didn't hang out and talk all the time but calling him an acquaintance seems wrong too. I've known him and his wife for 10 years and have been to their home once for a party and then would see them two or three times a year at our mutual friends (Joy and Doug's) home for parties.

His name was David Rupert and he was 41 years old he was blessed with a wonderful wife Vicki and two small children. Five weeks prior to his death he found out he had a brain tumor. My poor friend Vicki had her WHOLE world flip upside down in 5 weeks. I've never experienced such pain for anyone as I have for her loss. She LOVED that man deeply and now he is painfully missing in all our lives. We soon will have a Friday the 13th party at Joy and Doug's and I will sorely miss his quiet presence in their home. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet him. He probably never knew how many people would miss his presence in their lives.

I really feel we ALL would be shocked to learn that our life matters to more people than we know. When I think of this situation I have a loss for words .....