The proposal could not have been more us….
During the summer of 07' we met on the beaches of California and just a couple of years later decided to leave for the pastures of Wisconsin. On the way we journeyed through some of the country's most prestine state parks: Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Tahoe, and Yellowstone. There we spent much time together exploring and figuring out where we wanted to take our next steps in life. So what better place for an engagement than the great outdoors on an island in Lake Michigan. And before leaving...I had no idea what I was in for!
We chose to test our camping expertise by taking on the "Rock". Thats right, Rock Island, WI. A tiny island in Lake Michigan only accessible by two seperate ferry rides; the Rock is equipped with 18th century infrastructure composed of nothing more than a Lighthouse and a water well. This would be our most “hardcore” camping trip yet...3 days and 2 nights with no electricity and no running water. The first day we set up camp, hauled in firewood, and explored the beautiful island. After about an hour…unexpectadly a great midwestern storm rolled in. The sky filled with lightning and thunder and oh did it pour. Of course, with terrential rain comes floods, our tent was soon floating on a newly created pond that ecompassed our entire camp-site. A romantic proposal next to the fire under a sky filled with stars turned into a rain soaked mudbath and a very unpleasant Kyle. I never had any idea that the poor guy was armed with a ring and had planned to propose to me. Things did not go quite as planned that night, to say the least.
The next morning, the storm was long gone, and we awoke surrounded by the beauty that we had come for. With the perfect weather we “showered” in the lake and then spent the rest of the day hiking and exploring. Life could not have been better. Just prior to sunset Kyle insisted that we venture off to the beach to watch the sun go down. We brought our wine and chairs (I still have no idea at this point) and sat to watch the sun set over mainland Wisconsin. We sat discussing how were together taking hold of the reigns to life and devised plans to how we would overcome our future obstacles. The setting, the ambiance, everything, was magnificent. Kyle reminded me that it seemed as if we were always making our most important decisions when we were removed from "society", when we were camping. So I asked him “well than what are we deciding here?”
Suddenly Kyle was on one knee telling me that he had received approval from my father earlier in the week and that he wanted to give me something. When presented with a ring I did not believe what was happening....so Kyle got down on two knees...
I could not have asked for a better way to be proposed to. We spent the rest of the night by the fire under a sky filled with stars talking about our future, together...the way it was supposed to be.
For that one night - on an island - in the middle of nowhere - away from everything and everyone - our engagement was ours - just ours.