A Decent Proposal

The boys and I were chatting today in the van as we waited for Gail to finish her shopping. We got onto the subject of our 10th wedding anniversary, coming up on July 8. The hilarity soon ensued.


Jacob started things off: “When I want to get married, I need to buy the girl a ring, right Dad?”

“Yes, Jake…that’s the tradition,” I replied.

“And I have to get married when I’m 25 years old, right Dad?”

Hmmm…wasn’t sure where he got that from…especially given the fact that I was 24 when I proposed to Gail.

“Uh…no, Jake. You can be younger or older than 25.”

“Well, I know that I will hold her hand when asking her and I’ll speak ve-ry slooooowwwlllllllyyyyyyy. Do I say ‘Will you marry me?’ or ‘Would you marry me?’”

Taking a break from my laughter, I recalled that I actually asked Gail “Would you marry me?” when I meant to say, “Will you marry me?” I guess I was nervous!

“It doesn’t matter Jake…let’s worry about this in a few years.”

As an aside, Jake’s attitude towards marriage is vastly improving. The last time we talked about it, he asked me if he had to stay with the person he married. After I told him of course, he then told me that he would tell his wife he was going to work but then would visit another girl. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or seek counseling for him.

Back to today…Jake asked one final question: “Dad, where did you ask Mom to marry you?”

“At St. Paul’s,” I answered, “in front of all the teens, core leaders, and parents at LIFE TEEN!”

(See the video footage here).

Jake’s reply? “Oh my gosh!”

Then it was Sean’s turn to pepper me. More accurately, he offered his unsolicited opinion, just as Gail returned to the van.

“Dad, I think it was unfair that you proposed to Mom in front of everyone at LIFE TEEN,” he said. “Mom probably felt pressured to say ‘yes’ in front of all those people.”

Gail and I exchanged a quick grin.

“Well I knew she was going to say yes,” came my weak reply.
“And what if she had said no?”

Gail and I exchanged another quick grin.

“Why would she say no?” came my even weaker reply. “Besides, most women would say yes to me in that situation.”

I turned to Gail still grinning. Her grin had turned into a grimace. She punched me in my right arm, making me grimace.

Sean shot back: “Yeah, you’re right Dad…most women would say yes…”
My grimace turned back into a grin and then into an outright smile.

“…to just being your friend.”

I had no comeback. As Sean, Jake and Gail broke into uproarious laughter, I went back to grimacing and I started the van and drove. Even Kayla started laughing, and I’m pretty sure that she had no clue what we were talking about.

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s conversation will bring.

Or maybe I can.