Erin S

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Okay, finally the whole story. Hopefully you want to read it, but if not - just ignore!! The pictures aren't the greatest - we bought a disposable camera at a drug store, but you get the gist. :-)

So, many of you know about Chris' infamous 'time line' - he told me towards the end of March that the 'time line' had been finalized. I asked if I should purchase something new for the occasion, and he told me it would probably be a good idea, so I find a cute new dress and shoes and hung them up in my closet. My friend Aimee also had given some pearls a while back that she had gotten in China, so I restrung them and made a pair of earrings to match.

On Wednesday, April 11th, Chris told me that I should pack for the weekend and be ready to go on Thursday at 4pm. I had inadvertently discovered an appointment on his Yahoo calendar for the 13th at 7pm for 'The View' - my curiosity got the best of me and I found that there is a restaurant by Lake Calhoun by that name - so I figured we were going to a nice hotel or something for the night. He also told me to pack my pearls, so that signaled me to also pack up the dress and shoes that I had bought. I packed for the whole weekend, just because I usually stay at Chris' over the weekend, and was ready when he showed up at 4pm. About 4:25, he went downstairs to 'check something' and then came up and helped me with my suitcase. When we got outside, there was a car waiting for us (a limo-like sedan). Needless to say, my interest was perked. Unfortunately, the driver ruined it when he confirmed with Chris that we were flying Northwest. My head whips around and asks where we are going - and he just smiles.

So, we get to the airport and check in and I find out we are flying to JFK. I love NYC, and had told him many times how much I wanted to go visit again (for those of you who don't know, I spent a summer there at Columbia when I was in college).  So I immediately realize what is going on, and spend the next 90 minutes with a HUGE perma-grin on my face.  I call my friend Megan to see if she can attend an event that I was supposed to on Sunday to pick something up for me, and then turn my phone off for the weekend.  We board about 7pm, and I'm chattering on about transport to/from the airport - cabs, the subway, etc.  Chris just smiles and nods at me.  When we land at JFK, there is, of course a car waiting for us at the baggage claim.  He referred to me as 'my lady' and call Chris 'sir' - it was awesome!!!  I kind of had an idea of where we were, but realized when we went through the Queens-Midtown tunnel that we were headed towards the Times Square Area.   A little while later we pull up in front of the Hotel Sofitel, about 2 blocks from the heart of Times Square.  Literally the NICEST hotel I have ever stayed it. It was incredible!!  Our room was on the 23rd floor, and looked a lot like this:



We also had a great view of the Chrysler building outside of our window (not the greatest picture, but I was covering the flash with my hand so it would at least turn out a little!):


We went to bed (it was almost 1AM by this point).  The next morning we ordered room service for breakfast, and ate it in bed.  It was a great start to our trip!!  Then we went to the Museum of Natural History and roamed about there for a bit.  We went to a show in the planetarium, and then after that I took Chris up to Columbia and showed him where I worked for the summer.  We stopped at one of my favorite cafes for a late lunch, and then went back to the hotel for a quick nap.  Then it was time to get ready for dinner.  About 6:30, we walked towards Times Square to the Marriott Marquis.  There is a restaurant on the top (48th) floor called 'The View' and it REVOLVES!!!  How cool is that???  We had the waiter take a few pictures for us:



Dinner was FABULOUS!!!  They had a fixed price menu to choose from, and we were able to share and enjoy.  I ordered a Cosmopolitan, and it was delicious!!!  After the entreé I was stuffed, so I told the server to take his time with dessert.  A little bit later, he came out with a plate with a silver dome over it and a candle on top.  I was told to make a wish and blow out the candle.  I obliged, and when he lifted the dome, there was the most beautiful diamond solitaire.  I immediately started crying.  Chris got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  I still maintain that I said yes right away - he says it took a few minutes.  Regardless, I said yes and when he put the ring on my finger the whole restaurant applauded.  :-)  Here is the ring (beautiful 1 carat diamond set in a platinum solitaire):



Then, we had dessert.  Mmmm....



And our waiter brought us some champagne on the house:



Then, of course, a picture of me and my new ring:



And my two drinks:  :-)



All in all, it was a fantastic evening (we had another great view when we were eating, but the pictures didn't turn out - couldn't figure out how to turn OFF the flash).  When we got back to the hotel, Chris let me turn on my phone to call my mom, and got another picture of me the next morning exceedingly happy.  :-)



Saturday morning came the entire reason that Chris brought me to NYC to begin with.  He had long told me that he would propose with a solitaire, and we could then pick the setting out together.  Well, nowhere has more settings than Diamond Row in NYC!!  We trotted off Diamond Row (only about 3 blocks away) and spent a good hour looking at settings.  I found one I really liked, but didn't want to make too rash of a decision, so we had lunch at a cute diner, where I decided that was the one I wanted.  We went back, bought it and were able to have the diamond set and the ring resized on the spot - it was awesome.  Once I got home I took a picture.  It isn't the greatest, but you get the general idea.  Regardless, I love it!!  :-)



The rest of Saturday was spent in idle pursuits around Times Square.  Chris bought himself an engagement gift in the form of some camera lenses for his digital SLR, we went to M&M world and the Hershey store.  I also roamed about the Toys'R'Us flagship store like a little kid on crack - Chris laughed at me the entire time as I was constantly distracted by something different.  It was quite fun.  We also encountered a Scottish parade of sorts - complete with kilts and bagpipes!  We then went back to our room to rest our feet (which turned into a nap) and then my mom had gotten us tickets to see Mamma Mia! - I was SUPER excited, because I was hoping to see it when it is Minneapolis this June.  Now I don't need to (although would if given the opportunity).  Nothing like a little ABBA to brighten your evening.



We followed the show with some good ol' New York pizza (yum!) and then had dessert at the Hard Rock Cafe.  That rounded out the second day, and we headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep. 

Sunday dawned cloudy and RAINING.  Not just drizzle, but all out rain.  We borrowed an umbrella from the concierge, and braved the weather.  By the time we found a place to eat (it took about an hour to agree on something) we were drenched from the knees down.  So, we relaxed over lunch, and then went back and sat in the hotel lobby until the car came to pick us up to take us to the airport.  I was then allowed to turn on my phone, and I called my mom to check on the flight.  It was delayed, but she promised to keep us update.  In the meantime, I got a message from Aimee again, wanting to know what was going on.  Ironically, she was flying back from England with her family and was on the SAME FLIGHT back to MSP.  Unfortunately, that flight ended up being canceled.  Yikes.  So, when we got to JFK, we were able to get rebooked on a flight out of Newark the next day at about 5:30PM.  My mom helped us get a hotel by the airport, and we took a shuttle to Grand Central and then Newark.  Long story short - we made it home (on an earlier flight, thanks to the wonders of standby).  My mom picked us up at the airport and then my dad met us for dinner.

I have to say that it was the most wonderful weekend of my life thus far.  I love Chris more and more every day, and cannot WAIT until our wedding (only 385 days until May 17th, 2008!).

So, that is our story.  I hoped you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed experiencing it!!