The Proposal

Sept 7th 2009
The day started much like any other except for the fact that we were surrounded by friends. We had spent the previous day with Elizabeth Shutt, Sarah Pais, Donny Loa and his girlfriend Elania. I went for a run before most of the others got up. Austin was still asleep. I came back and we all had a big breakfast and off we went to San Antonio that afternoon. We hugged and kissed and made plans to see each other sooner rather than later.
Sarah dropped us off at our hotel and we said our teary good-byes. We went and checked into our hotel. I grabbed my parasol and we were off to walk the city. We looked at the times for the Jazz club but we weren’t expecting much, being Labor Day. I asked Austin if he had the camera and he didn’t so he ran back up to the room to look for it. So, while I was waiting for him to find the camera he was texting and calling everyone to make sure they were in place. So we walked one direction down the river and we asked a friendly San Antonian where to find some food and she led us to a deli after a short conversation about what we were doing in San Antonio. She asked if we were married, or honeymooning. I thought nothing of it, being together for so long we get asked that a lot…little did I know.
We grabbed a quick bite at the Hippo café, a short walk from the river, all the while Austin taking several bathroom breaks. I thought nothing of it but in actuality he was texting and confirming. We walked back down the river walk and on the way I saw a little art fair. I wanted to stop for a second and take a look, Austin was, as always, obliging. However, he did seem to want to get to the Alamo and I didn’t see anything I liked so we kept on our way.
Finally we were making our way across the street on that very warm Labor Day and Austin begins to wax poetic about the Alamo. It’s like the White House for Texans. We take a picture of our pose that we strike whenever we visit somewhere new or revisit an old site. And then we walked up to the commemorative line were William B. Travis drew a line in the sand and asked the men of the Alamo if they were willing to give everything for freedom, liberty and Texas (that’s a big deal for Texans) and Austin says, “ You know Ann, there have been a lot of important things that happened here, a lot of big decisions were made right here…” As I was looking at the golden line and reading the plaque he asks me… “I was hoping you could make one more…will you marry me, Ann?”
“OhmyGod! Yes! Of course I will!” That was all I could think to blurt out before he put the most beautiful ring on my finger and led me around to the street. This is where I don’t remember things, I was a little fuzzy in the brain about then but Austin tells me he said, “ You know this is a special day and it’s not just about what goes on but it’s also about who you’re with.” Then I see his Father and Mother, Gary and Empress, appear out of the crowd along with Mom and Dad, Nancy and Steve and our amazing friends Sarah and Michael! It was like a party erupted right there in front of the Alamo, hugs and kisses (and a few tears). And we all went back into the hotel to celebrate with drinks and dinner. I wonderful day planned to PERFECTION by my amazing fiancé.