Dan proposed to me nearly two years ago, on a crisp October morning on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I'm not sure how he did it- I guess it's because he knows me so well -but he picked the one and only place that I ever imagined being proposed to, because it is my favorite place in the city.
He had surprised me with a renewal of my museum membership a few months back- specifically (so I thought) so that I could visit the Rembrandt exhibition I had been pining to attend. We had recently moved out of Philadelphia, and into the suburbs. The trip to the museum was our first visit back to the city and our old neighborhood together and we were looking forward to getting brunch with our friends afterward at one of my favorite pubs and just enjoying the beautiful, late October day.
Little did I know, that as we were standing atop the steps, looking over our beloved city and discussing our future (would we move back? should we stick it out in the suburbs? how we couldn't wait to build a garden next spring.) Dan was gathering up the nerve to kneel down on one knee and ask me to marry him. And when he did, I was so stunned I actually stepped backwards! We had been together at that point for six years- I truly wasn't expecting it. But I said yes - of course! - after pulling myself out of the surreal haze I found myself in - I said yes. Moments later, after I wiped away tears, I was delighted to find that two of our best friends, Chris and Becky - and their little daughter Emily - and their twin boys that Becky was still carrying in her belly, looking as though she could burst at any moment - were watching the entire scene unfold as Chris snapped photos of the proposal.
After the above photo was snapped, we gathered up our things, called our families and jetted off to the pub to share our happy news with more friends and celebrate over Bloody Marys.
And here we are, almost two years later, ready to begin the next chapter of our lives together!
