“OK, this time its for real,” Barrett said as we entered the taxi to take us to the bus station on our way to Kanchanaburi with our huge backpacks building a polyester divide between us. He handed me the ring box that I ‘d become familiar with during the week due to his presentation of multiple plastic rings at random times. “Are you serious? Not in a taxi!” “Im serious! Colleen, you need to hold onto this for the rest of the trip and DON ‘T lose it, its expensive!!” I took the little white box nervously and stuck it in my bag wondering what was to come and curious at how he could surprise me with me holding the ring.
The next day we went on a day trip to a 7 layer waterfall with a minivan full of other tourists. Barrett thought about what the day was to bring, sighed in hopeful expectation, and then turned to the guy next to him and introduced himself. For the next 14 hours we were inseparable with this vivacious Austrian couple that introduced us to European history, life, and laughs!! What a blast we had with our new found friends, but alas, no alone time much to Barrett ‘s chagrin! I was clueless and just enjoyed the day of hiking, swimming in freezing water with biting fish, touring, and laughing. We ended the night having dinner and fruit shakes with Franz and Sabina and discussing truth and purpose of life. Good times!
After breakfast the next morning, Barrett and I rented a motorbike and road an hour down the road to see Sai Yok waterfall. We went so fast that it pulled the drool and tears from our mouth and eyes which was no problem for him but lead to a wet ride for me! Upon seeing the water fall packed with scores of adults picnicking, children screaming as they slid down the rocks in their underwear, and all the masses clicking pictures Barrett exclaims, “THIS IS HORRIBLE, I RUINED IT!!” I smiled and said he didn’t have to do it today. He paused to think and then we decided to ascend the stairway to the top of the falls which we found to be surprisingly vacant. We found a spot by the waterfall feeding river on top of a bamboo platform table thing and put our stuff down. He reaches in his bag and asks, “Can I read you a story?” He ‘d been doing that all week as well so I said, “Sure. ”
He pulled out a book of 11 typed pages he had written and began to read with the sound of the waterfall in our ears, leafy green trees as our canopy, and bugs as our companions. He read about the days before heading to RI for his summer active duty station, finally resigned to be single, meeting me, and the months that followed. I interjected my thoughts and memories throughout which led to bouts of laughter and smiles. He then led up to when he asked my dad for permission to vote democrat and then started to cry as he continued to read about how he told my dad about his responsibility and goals of being the husband of his daughter. “Did he cry?” Barrett continued without answering my question…”after a long pause that became awkward I heard the sniffles. ”
He continued with the story and soon I heard, “and then you reached for that ring box you ‘ve been carrying around with you this whole time…” Oh, oh, that’s my cue! I reached for the ring box, ” Is it for real?” ” Open it!” I did and…it was empty, save for the 2 stickers we got from doing aerobics and a paper x where the ring should be …I tackled him laughing! He told me to pull out the paper and said that that was what was inscribed on my ring. BC <X> CC The symbol in the middle is the infinity sign with 2 breaks on the side. If you look at it you can see 2 Christian fish symbolizing a Christian marriage, then the infinity sign saying that its forever, and then the X in the middle is the Greek letter for Christ and that He is the center. I was thoroughly impressed! He then pulled out a bright green metal heart shaped ring box that had multiple description words painted on the top which he used to declare his affection for me and the reason why he LOVES (smile) me and then he got down on his knees and asked me if I would marry him!! WOW! I quickly said NO, pushed him down and then jumped off the falls running!
OK, I didn’t!! The ring is amazing and comes from my Grandma ‘s wedding and engagement rings molded together! We’ ll have to tell you the details when we see you! There has to be some surprise!! SO!!!!! Barrett successfully incorporated my love for stories, humor, and surprise in his endeavor to ask for my hand and life in marriage! I gave him a hug, a kiss on the cheek and told him…”I love you! ” (smile) We road back on our little motorbike with the wind once again leaving me with a tear and spit washed face due to the big smiles that plastered both our faces. WE’RE GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!