They’re a Dangerous Breed, Mate, so Watch me Wallabys Feed…

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I must explain the title for this post.  I’m often told by my hubby I remember this story incorrectly (where he looks like a fool), but as I remember the song playing in the parking garage we were in when he picked me up in Chicago (Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport - we were on the Australia level), I think I should be given the benefit of the doubt.  A friend once said Pup & I were like Paul & Jamie Buchman in Mad About You…you be the judge.

Okay.  So, last I left you with Puppy & I nearly breaking up on St. Patty’s 1998, because he didn’t propose to me.  He promised he’d propose the next time I saw him.  We all know he’s an engineer, right?  And, they are nothing if not tunnel-visioned and literal in every sense.  I knew when I left South Bend at the end of spring break, the next time I would see the Pup was at his graduation six weeks later.  I knew what was coming.

Circa April 1998
(the phone..the phone is ring-ing)
“Hello?”
“Hey, Pup.  I was just wondering if I could go ahead and design my ring - since you are proposing at graduation?”
“Huh?  What makes you think that.” (deer in headlights look visible via phone)
“Well, you told me you were.  And, since I will have to wear this for all eternity, don’t you think I should have some say in how it looks?  You wouldn’t want to have to exchange it if I didn’t like it, would you?”
(fumbling for the right words)
“Is two months’ salary before or after taxes?”
“That question will certainly be ignored.  Okay.  I’m calling Roch.” (Isn’t it great that the family jeweler is named Roch?!)

It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon.  The air was warm and pleasant in the Windy City when I arrived on Amtrak (you all know how I feel about planes) for Pup’s graduation.  I got off the train and expected nothing but fireworks.  Instead?  I got off and had nobody there to greet me.  He was about an hour late.  We kissed hello, and the only thing I said was, “Just let me get a shower before you do this.  I’ve been on a train for 19 hours.”

We got back to South Bend, I checked into the hotel, and I got my shower.  I dressed up rather nice with heels.  Pup was wearing khaki cargo shorts and a polo-type shirt that had seen better days.  We went back to the dorm (I presumed, incorrectly, for Pup to change into something appropriate) and hung out for a while. 

He asked where I wanted to eat dinner.  WTH?  Is this him trying to throw me again?  Or is he deliberately trying to be funny?  Neither.  My elegant candlelight meal…no wait! This is Puppy and he took me to TGI Fridays (no lie!) where I ate in almost silence! 

After dinner he told me he’d arranged for us to watch the last ever episode of Seinfeld at a friend’s apartment.  In my head I’m thinking, “You better freaking be kidding me!”…..but what did we do?  Watched the last episode of Seinfeld.  I was getting kinda pissed by this point.  I’m still in a dress and heels and he’s still in the cargo shorts.

After Seinfeld it’s 10 o’clock.  Pup asks if I want dessert.  Okay.  Here it comes!  I can do this…and then he takes me to a ice-cream place similar to Dairy Queen.  Only, as this is South Bend on a Thursday night, after ND is out for the summer, it’s closed.  He drives to two other places.  I’m steaming.  Can he not see the smoke coming out of my ears?  No.  He suggests we get dessert at…wait for it: Denny’s.  My answer was, “I am not that hungry.” 

We drove back to campus.  We parked the car.  He said, “Let’s take a walk.” And, my knees went to jelly.  We start walking around the lake and I stop.   “I gotta pee.” (When I get nervous, I need to pee.) Pup says, “You’re going to ruin this?” No.  I couldn’t.  I wouldn’t dare ruin this moment.  We walk about ten more steps.  “I’m sorry,” and then I proceed to hike my dress up, kick off my heels and run like mad to the dorm to pee, flashing several people in the process.  I return a few minutes later.  Puppy is shaking his head.

We resume the walk.  Then, he stops.  Apparently the senior class had just had a mass.  There are people everywhere at the Grotto.  And, as all Domers propose at the Grotto, he has no idea what to do.  He says, “I can’t do this with people here.” We sit on a bench.  We wait.  We wait.  Then, we wait some more.  There is no talking - just waiting.  The last of the mass attendees leaves and he says, “Okay.  I can do this now.” 

He kneels down.  He looks up and says, “Am I on the right knee?”  I started laughing.  I couldn’t stop.  It was just such a disaster of an evening and leave it to him to question which knee he needed to be on.  Then, he seems upset.  “I just asked you to marry me and you keep laughing.” “Oh, yeah.  Yes.  Of course.” 

I love you Pup.  You make my heart go pitter patter.

Obviously it’s worked out okay.  Cause check out the adorable kid we got:

Playing Wii Bowling this morning in his Rocking Pony original!

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Filed under 3 Ring Circus, Getting Older and Wiser, I love the Puppy, I'm such a freakazoid, My life BC (before child), Shiver Me Timbers