The Perfect Proposal

                There is beauty in everyday tasks and ordinary objects.  In February, our minds seem to wander a little closer to love, that everyday feeling that makes life extraordinary.  The unpredictable nature of falling in love (or not) has long been attributed to Cupid, the classical mythology god of attraction and desire.  Cupid is said to carry two types of arrows.  If struck by a sharp golden point, one is overtaken by uncontrollable desire, while one struck by a blunt lead tip experiences aversion and an overwhelming desire to flee – much like Pepe Le Pew and the hapless painted cat of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies fame.

 

                This is the story of four love-struck gentlemen, and their quests for the perfect proposal.  Dave and Michelle had dated from the time they were in the seventh grade until he left for trade school.  It would be eleven years before they’d meet again.  Their conversation was ordinary, little more than polite but, from the moment she slipped her phone number into his shirt pocket and walked away without a word, their romance was rekindled.

 

                Seven months later, he’d bought the perfect ring, and planned the perfect day.  They would hike the trails of Mount Davis, climb the fire tower and, at PA’s highest point, he’d ask her to be his bride.  But it rained.  They drove for a bit and, to stall for time, he taught her to drive a clutch.  Still, it rained.  He took her to Piney Dam, where he’d never failed to see a soaring eagle.  They were absent.  When dusk fell, he took her for ice cream.  As she reached for her cone, he grabbed her finger and uttered the words every woman longs to hear, “I need to ask you something…”  Her response?  A startled and vehement, “You didn’t just ask me that?” Then, she called him a name that we can’t print.

 

                Mike and Misty graduated from the same class.  They never dated and weren’t really friends, but he remembers her with startling clarity.  Years after graduation, they connected on Facebook, sharing the pain of failed marriages.  Almost immediately, Mike knew he wanted Misty and her daughter to be his family.  Old fashioned, with a modern twist, he asked both father and child for her hand. 

 

                Misty is a woman of intuition and knows how to take charge of a situation.  Admirable qualities, but ones that make a surprise proposal difficult.  She noticed when the ring she’d picked was missing from the display case.  After an exhausting day she nearly cancelled their date, a moonlit walk across the breast of the Quemahoning dam.  When he asked her to dance, she insisted they move to her car for better music and, when Mike pulled a custom lighted jewelry box from his pocket, she chastised him. (It had only been 364 days since their first date, not their true anniversary) Undeterred, he asked, “Will you be my wife?” Her hand shook so much that the ring fell to the ground – in the dark, in the gravel, near the water…

 

                Stephen and Jamye are no spring chickens, but they are one another’s first loves.  It’s been 2 ½ years since they met on a blind date.  He treats her like a lady and she delights every time he opens a door and escorts her into a room with his hand at the small of her back.  They’ve had their ups and downs but have learned to make love work while each caring for aging parents.  Marriage had never been discussed but, when Stephen made a remark about going to Jared’s, both Jamye and her dad were expecting a ring at Christmas.

 

                He arrived with brightly wrapped boxes and gift bags for father and daughter alike.  Their eyes met and they shared a conspiratorial wink when they spied a box of the right size.  Jamye did her best to hide her regret that it held new charms for her bracelet.  Her father was less gracious, telling Stephen, “You’ve really disappointed me, son.” 

 

                Embarrassed and upset, Jayme tried to control her emotions as they prepared to part for the evening.  She stepped forward for their customary embrace and nearly broke into tears when Stephen pushed her away.  “Oh, I forgot one,” he remarked as he casually removed a ring from his pocket.  Fearing another disappointment, Jayme just had to ask, “What kind of a ring is that?”

 

                Cayce and Angel were “just friends” when he realized he was in love.  She had a boyfriend, but Cayce felt he needed only to bide his time.  It turned out, he was right.  That relationship came to an end and their friendship matured into a deep and mutual love.  Angel’s intense drive and varied interests are part of what he loves most, but are also what made it tricky to find the perfect ring and to orchestrate his proposal. 

 

Between her trips to New York City to present a research paper, her commitment to Teach for America, and her visits to New Mexico to reconnect with the wolves she’d raised on a sanctuary, he had plenty of time to custom design her ring – it would have history, incorporating his grandmother’s rubies and his mother’s diamonds; they would be securely set so as not to accidentally scratch the face of a child, nor be nibbled free by a wolf; and it all would be wrapped in the infinity symbol (∞) – but little time to actually propose.

 

Finally, a day came when they were both free.  He recreated their first date: a 4 ½ mile hike to Angel Falls in TN with her giant (and not so friendly) Great Dane.  If there had been a doubt in his mind, it would have been erased the moment they reached their destination.  The generally crowded overlook was deserted, the air was a perfect mix of mist and sun; when they turned to look at the falls, a rainbow graced the scene and he asked the question that had been on his mind almost since they met.

 

So, what is it that makes the perfect proposal?  Is it the ring, the time, or the place?  No, what makes the perfect proposal is her answer.  What did our ladies say?  Well, Dave and Michelle have been married for 16 years; Mike and Misty found the ring and she wears it proudly; Stephen and Jayme are gleefully introducing one another as their fiancé; and Cayce and Angel have celebrated two anniversaries and are the proud parents of our little cupid.  In each case, she said “Yes!”

 

From your engagement photo, to your wedding; from your baby’s first photo to their senior portrait, Photography by Balko, is a full-service studio specializing in unique lifestyle photography.  To see more of our work, visit http://philipbalko.com/.  You may contact Phil at inquiry@philipbalko.com or (814)352-5327.