November 17th

Thursday night is usually when I have a meeting with an overseas client. So, when the boyfriend insisted we go out to dinner and celebrate our 62nd monthiversary at Bamboo Sushi, I wasn’t crazy about the idea. I didn’t even like monthiversaries anymore. Counting upwards the months I’ve been someone’s girlfriend got old for me, especially after I turned 30. Also, I figured he was trying to make up for not celebrating our fifth year anniversary, and while I appreciated the gesture, I didn’t want to be reminded of how unhappy I was about it. I didn’t think one expensive dinner could make up for what seemed like a serious stagnation in our relationship, nor did I want to be reminded of it.

I did everything in my power to dissuade him from eating out that night. I was too busy and that restaurant was notoriously expensive. He refused to be dissuaded, however, and promised not to freak out at the menu prices. My super frugal boyfriend not freaking out at the menu of the town’s most expensive sushi restaurant? Hmm…  But no. I really didn’t want to eat out. I also wanted to see if I could go one more day without showering because I’m disgusting like that.

He got sort of frustrated and then got super stubborn.

“Look. I have been working really hard and I deserve this. I am getting paid pretty well and I want to celebrate being with you because you deserve it! You’ve worked so hard and I’m so proud of you. You deserve it! We both deserve it! We can go early and be back in time for your meeting. WE’RE GOING!”

There was no talking him out of it.

I grumbled, “I guess I’d better shower.”

It was cute how he put on nice slacks and shirt for this. In Portland, people wear beanies and hiking boots even to the opera. I didn’t want to be outdone so I put on my heels and braved the muddy weather.

When we were done eating, we both sat back and exchanged the usual silly nonsense that makes up much of our conversations. I don’t even remember what we were talking about. I just remember him casually pulling out a little cube box with a very telling ribbon around it,  as if it were a wallet or a handkerchief. Nothing seemed real then.

He plopped it on the table right in front of me. I think I was still chewing whatever was stuck in my teeth.

“What is it? “

“You know what it is. “

In a daze, I pulled the ribbon and opened the gift box, revealing a jewelry box inside. I was afraid to anticipate anything until I opened that box, too, but there it was, more dazzling and shining brighter than anything I could ever have asked for.

The truth is, we’d been talking about it, so I didn’t think I could be surprised. Yet, I was completely dumbfounded, teary-eyed and giddy to the point of shaking. I held it out to him so he could put it on me and, as he did, he said,

“We can get it resized. I was happy when I picked this out. I really like it and I hoped you’d like it, too.”
Please. At this point, I would have even liked a dead rat on a stick.
“This is the biggest purchase I’ve ever made, but it’s also the easiest. You totally deserve it and you deserved it long ago. Sorry to make you wait so long.”
No questions were asked, no formal declarations made, as it would have been awkward and redundant for both of us. He just looked at me with his large black shining eyes and I, overwhelmed with emotion, could only keep giggling and gasping. When I could finally speak, I said,

“Man, I’m really glad I decided to shower.”

Thanks for sharing this happy moment with me, everyone. And thanks for your support for me and the boyfriend over the years.

With love,
Al

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