On the subway ride home, Brian and I exchanged numbers and that same night we met up at Luna Park in Union Square. There was definitely something between us from the very start.
Since Brian was studying for his yearly surgical board exam we didn’t see each other for another month after that. The night before his exam I e-mailed him to wish him luck. He e-mailed back and after his test, we went out on our official first date. We have been together ever since.
The Treasure Hunt
The day that Brian proposed to me began as a typical Tuesday. It was October 30th and everyone was conversing about their various plans for Halloween. Little did I know that Halloween Eve would turn into the most memorable day of my life.
As the work day was winding down, I called Brian and he nonchalantly agreed to meet me for a drink after work. However, as I sat at my desk and checked my e-mail for the last time, my boss appeared with a brilliantly carved pumpkin in her hand.
I was amused, but very confused. She instructed me to open the lid of the pumpkin and inside I discovered a clue that read, "Welcome to the world of treasure hunts and to the surprise of your life! Your instructions are simple: read and follow the clues carefully and you will be led around the city. This journey you are about to take begins today, but lasts forever ... "
I was instructed to pack up my things and told I would not be returning to work that week. I headed downstairs to a black limousine that was waiting for me.
When I got into the limo I found that it was laced with white, peach, red, yellow, and pink rose pedals. In the center was another pumpkin that held the second clue: "Tell the limo driver to take you to the place we met."
When I got to Center Street I recognized the courthouse where my boyfriend and I first met. In the lobby, the security guards were watching over yet another pumpkin. Then, out from nowhere, popped my roommate to snap a picture. First my boss, now my roommate? I had no clue what was going on!
The next clue led us to a Mexican Restaurant on the Upper East Side, the same place we had our first date. I said goodbye to my roommate and collected the next pumpkin from the bartender.
The Final Pumpkin (At Last!)
Inside the pumpkin was a picture of a little French inn on the Upper East Side and a mini Eiffel Tower. When I arrived at the inn, the hostess at the check-in counter handed me the final pumpkin and inside was a key to the penthouse suite.
As I walked up the three flights of stairs, I was overwhelmed with anticipation. With wobbly hands, I slowly opened the door.There was my boyfriend, wearing a suit and sitting in the center of the room. The room itself was covered in rose petals, there was a fire burning in the fireplace, and in the background was a French canopy bed. After a brief hug, Brian got down on one knee and proposed.
He said to me, "I want to share our first few days of engaged life alone together." With that, he handed me a second present, and inside the box were two tickets to Paris, leaving the next morning!
Apparently, Brian had been planning his proposal for the past three months and had managed to hide every bit of it from me. He had brought our passports, and hidden in the closet were our packed suitcases ready to go.
That night, we enjoyed a beautiful and delicious French dinner at the inn and the next morning we boarded a plane to Paris where we spent four romantic days in engagement glory.
