The Engagement

After we'd dated for almost a year, Neal showed up at my parents' house unexpectedly on Friday night as we were finishing supper. Just as any good Jewish mother would, my Mom invited Neal into the kitchen (no questions asked), handed him a plate of food and we all sat around while he ate, which was probably the most difficult meal he's ever eaten given that he was so nervous.

When it was time to get my nephew Brayden into his PJ's, Neal knew that there would be a commotion and this would be his chance to suddenly disappear without being noticed. He took that opportunity to ask my Dad for permission to marry me. I still had absolutely no idea what was about to happen. When everyone came back into the kitchen, Neal asked for everyone's attention. My Dad was strangely missing, so my brother had to go and find him. Of course he was in the den watching the Blue Jays game and trying to keep his emotions in check so as not to give away the surprise. I still had no idea what was about to happen.

Finally, Neal said that we had come to a cross-roads in our relationship and he had a decision to make. Then he said, so I'm just going to do this. He got down on one knee and said Deb will you marry me. Of course I said "YES!". We kissed and hugged and my family went nuts. The whole time that Neal was asking me to marry him, his Mom called three times. Whatever could she want? Gummy Bears!!! She thought that he had taken the car to go grocery shopping. Boy was she surprised when we called her back to tell her why she wasn't going to get her Gummy Bears. Just in case you're all wondering, she did get her Gummy Bears the next day. I brought her a big container of them.

Then we made calls to many of our family and friends to tell them of the good news. There were Mazel Tov's all around and everyone was happy for us. The next night my parents invited his parents over to their house to celebrate and start the wedding planning.