He Said

 It went perfectly as planned. I had the ring, and a plan. All I had to do was keep it a secret...

The Ring...

After about 2 months of shopping, researching and haggling, On October 20th 2004 I picked up Jessica's engagement ring. I knew I had done the right thing, because just as I said "Ok, I'll take it", I noticed that one of Jessica's and My songs was playing on the radio. It was "Here Without You" by "3 Doors Down". I'll take that as a good sign.

Her Parents Blessing...

On Friday Nov.12 2005, I left work early for a drive to Laredo TX. Laredo is Jessica's home town and where her parents live today. It's about 3 hours south of San Antonio. I'm on my way to ask Jessica's parents for their blessing. Jessica's Mom and Dad don't even know I'm coming. Heck, at this point, only 2 other people (Roderick and Karl) and one dog (Coco) even know what I'm planning. I didn't tell the cat though, he can't keep a secret.

I arrive in Laredo around 5:00pm, drive to the house.... but nobody is there... "Ok" I think to myself. They are just out, I'll wait.... and wait... uh.. and wait... Now it's around 6:30 and I'm starting to get just a little nervous. What do I do? I've come all this way, I can't just give up. So, I give Jim (Jessica's Father) a call on his cell phone. No answer... So I just leave a message. "Hi Jim, I'm in town on work business, thought I'd drop by and say hi, give me a call". So I drive past the house one more time, but I still don't see the Suburban. I think it's getting near 7:00 now, when I decide to call Jim one more time. This time he answers. Jim tells me that Mine (Jessica's Mom) is at home, the Suburban has a flat tire and is stuck at a friend's house. Jim tells me he is on his way home from the ranch now and I should just go over to the house. Whoop!! I wonder if Mine noticed me driving past all those times?

So I go to the house to find that Mine is in fact home. And better yet, she didn't see me, and totally bought my story about why I was in town. Ok... here we go. Jim comes home about 30 minutes later or so. I might mention that Mr. Fulgham works as a Forman for a Texas cattle ranch. And it's perfectly normal for him to walk in the door with a rifle under his arm. However, given the reason I'm really there, you'd have to agree that sounds like something right out of a Movie. So after about 10 minutes of chatting about where we should go for a bite, I convince them to hang on, I want to tell them something...

I proceed to go through my little speech I had memorized, and as I get to the end part "... I'd love to have both of your blessings". I completely catch Jessica's Mom off guard. She did NOT see this coming at all. Jim sits there very calm and collected for to me what seemed like an eternity. While Jessica's Mom gasps in disbelief. "Oh my god Shane, are you serious?!!". As I wait patiently for a response from Jessica's father, I'm actually starting to get a bit nervous. "Oh oh, quick, where is the door, and where is that gun!!". But alas, Jim speaks up with some very nice and complimentary words, and finished with "Yes you have our blessing". Jessica's Mom on the other hand, is a different story. She still hasn't quite managed to believe this is all happening. Don't get me wrong! There is a huge smile on her face, and I'm quite sure she is excited. She is just really REALLY excited. Actually, I had to get out the Engagement ring and show it to her to finally convince her I wasn't playing some "Typical Shane" joke. Now, Mine believes me and can't wait to tell everyone!

For those of you who have met Jessica's parents, you'll have to make sure to read these next parts spoken by Jim in your best "Mr. Fulgham" accent.

Shane: "I'd really like to keep this all a secret."
Míne: "Can I just tell..."
Jim: "No Míne, he wants to keep it quiet."
Míne: "What about..."
Jim: "No Míne, you can't tell anyone."
Míne: "Can't I even just tell..."
Jim: "No Míne, Shane wants this a secret."

By the way, it's Friday, it's going to be well after 1:00am before I get back to San Antonio. How on earth am I keeping Jessica from finding out where I am? Easy, I'm working really late today Jessica, because we have a big deadline due for one of our clients. Which was actually true! Jessica didn't have a clue. Oh yeah, and later at dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Fulgham, Jim tells me that after about the 3rd word in my little speech, he knew EXACTLY why I was there, and what I was about to do. How you ask? Because he's obviously been on the other side before.

The day before...

It's now December 23rd. Am I getting excited and nervous now? Well, in a word.. YEAH!! But first let me set the situation up. It's almost Christmas. And since I now own my very first house, I have asked if we could all spend Christmas in my humble abode together. That is, all of the Fulghams, and all of the Powells. However, Mrs. Fulgham is having a Christmas party on the 23rd. So Myself, Jessica, and my parents (Art and Lois drove down to San Antonio in their RV a few weeks earlier) are going to drive to Laredo for the Christmas party. Then both families are going to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my house. Sounds easy enough right? hehe.. read on.

December 24th is the day I plan to pop the question to Jessica. And I have a bit of a production planned, so I have a few things I need to organize. I am going to need to get Jessica on her own and in her car some time around lunch on the 24th. And I'll need about an hour of setup and about an hour for Jessica. I need to keep things from holding my plan back.

The first little hitch, we're going to Laredo the day before! That's ok, no problem there. We'll be coming back that evening anyway. However, we are all driving to Laredo in my car, then heading back to my house for the night but Jessica's car is at her apartment. Jessica keeps asking "Shane, should we stop and get my car on the way home?". Well, while trying to act cool about it, I'm trying to convince her that it's a good idea. Remember, I need her to have her car on the 24th. But, alas, she in the end decides that it's just a pain to do that night, and she'll just go get it the next morning. Ok.. no problem.. I can work around that. I'll drop her off at her car, and then start the fun. So, we're all off to Laredo. We have a blast at the Fulgham's, and head home that night. So far... so good...

Here we go...

You know it's funny, I slept really great that night! I wasn't up nervous and anxious or anything. I think it must have been because I was just so sure in what I was doing and I just knew Jessica was going to say yes, I just knew it.

It's Christmas eve, the day before my single favorite day of the year, and can you believe it... I'm not even thinking about tomorrow! I have more important things on my mind. And now I'm getting really nervous. So... We all get up that morning, slowly roll into the kitchen where somebody made coffee. I think my Dad made some breakfast. We're just chatting and planning our day around the kitchen table. Eventually, Jessica and I get our butts in gear and head to her apartment to pick up her car. You know that old adage, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong? Lets test that shall we?

If you remember, I need to get Jessica by herself in her car, and I need to get going in my own car. I have a handful of things to do. So, I walk Jessica up to her apartment, give her a big hug and a kiss, and tell her I'll see her later. On the way to my car, walking past Jessica's car... FLAT TIRE! Woops! Ok.. ok.. no problem.. I can work around this... I tell Jessica about her tire, and tell her I'll just put her spare on for her, and she'll be fine. So, I get the spare tire out of the trunk... it's almost flat too. D'Oh! Ok.. ok.. no problem.. I can work around this too. I put the spare on, and it has enough air to get to the gas station. But.. not enough that I want to let Jessica take it... ok... ok.. no problem... I give Jessica the keys to my car, and tell her I'll just take hers, fill up the tire, and meet her at my place... Perfect... Disaster averted.

I get back to my place in Jessica's car, but I ask my Dad if I can take his truck... Just in case something happens to that spare tire. I sneak around the house, getting my gear into my Dad's truck and tell my parents I'm just going out for some last minute stuff. It's about 12:30 or so at this point. On my way out the door, my Mom asks "Can you pick up some napkins?" Uh.. ok Mom... Hey, what could I say? It was a secret to them too.

So.. what exactly am I planning by the way? Simple really... I'm sending Jessica on a romantic "Scavenger Hunt". I have 3 roses, 3 music CDs and 3 cards. I'm going to hide each set at different places in San Antonio for Jessica to find. If you want to know how it all went together from Jessica's point of view, read the "She Said..." section. But, basically each CD had mixed in music tracks, and my voice with instructions on how to find the next CD.

I pull into destination #1. Crabby Jacks. This was where we went for a drink after dinner the day we met. I hide the rose, change into a different set of clothes. Why? That is also explained in the "She Said..." section. Now I call Jessica. "Jessica, as soon as you get to my house, give me a call, ok?". click... Let me tell you right now, that was the LONGEST 45 minutes of my entire life!

RINGGGG!! Woh!! Ok.. here we go... uh... I don't recognize that number!! It was my Mom... It's almost like my Mom was testing me or something, because she wanted me to ask Jessica to pick up some things. Hey.. cut it out Mom! I'm nervous and anxious enough as it is here, I don't want to delay Jessica any more than I have to. I think I made up some sort of lame story as to why Jessica couldn't do it. Ok.. no more distractions. :)

RINGGG!! That's Jessica's number.. here we go. "Hi honey, do me a favor, get a specific present from under the tree, look in the tree itself for a red rose and CD. Get into my car, insert the CD, and follow the instructions. Ok?" click. It feels like my heart is going to jump right out of my chest now!

I now leave Crabby Jacks and head for our final destination, the Fire Hut. I walk a very short distance to the movie theater and leave my 3rd rose and CD. Then I back off about 100 yards to make sure the rose is safe. Nobody touched it, though. One guy spotted it, but left it alone. I wonder if he knew? Watching from a distance at the entrance I fully expect Jessica to show up from a specific area. All of a sudden I see her come in from a MUCH CLOSER entrance!! Woh.. I'm sure she didn't see me though. I watch her park the car and head for the rose. My favorite part about this location, Jessica was looking around nervously as if she was some sort of 007 secret spy. She must be just loving this. Now that she has the rose, I run back over to the Fire Hut. She'll be here any moment now.

I'm sitting at the bench at the Fire Hut, wearing the exact same clothes I had on the day we met. uh.. plus a jacket, it was really cold that day! Jessica pulls up with a smile like I've never seen before. It's no secret what I'm up to now, she knows... I'm sure of that. Jessica walks up to me at the bench in front of the restaurant. After a big hug and a kiss, I sit her down beside me. Holy cow am I nervous now! How nervous? Bungee jumping? Sky Diving? Shark Wrestling? KIDS PLAY!

Holding Jessica's hand, and still sitting beside her I say: "Jessica, nobody on this earth has ever made me feel like you do. And ever since Christmas of last year, I knew I had found the woman of my dreams. I love you more than words can describe." Getting on one knee and pulling out the ring box. "Jessica Jay Fulgham, will you marry me?". I'm pretty sure that about 3/4 of second had passed when she responded with "Of course I'll marry you!". From this moment on, the rest of my life begins!

We both hustle home to my house. My parents still don't realize what has happened. "Hey Mom and Dad!... Meet your future Daughter-in-Law!". Let the celebration begin!

For the rest of the day, Jessica and I enjoyed surprising people with the latest news. Jessica's' brother Clay comes over.

Jessica: "Clay.. meet your future Brother in Law".. WOH!

Jessica's parents arrive. And they both think that I'm going to ask Jessica on Christmas Day. So they don't even know.

Jessica: "Mom and Dad.. guess what?..."

But my favorite surprise. My sister. She didn't have a clue either. In fact, Royanne hasn't even met Jessica yet. So myself, Jessica, and my Mom and Dad go to the airport on Christmas Day to pick up my sister. Fresh off of the airplane, Royanne hugs Mom, Dad, me and then I introduce Jessica.

"Royanne, meet your future sister in law!".

What was Royanne's reaction? Have you ever watched Seinfeld? Do you know how Elaine likes to push people in the chest while saying "Get Out!!".. Well.. that's exactly what Royanne did.

To put this in perspective... Christmas 2004 was far and away the best Christmas ever.

And just to keep her on her toes...

I had one more little surprise for Jessica. And this one just came to me at the last minute. We were heading to Laredo and the Callaghan ranch to spend New Years. However, Jessica has had to leave her ring at the jewelers to be resized. They told us it would not likely be ready until the 8th of January. But I really want Jessica to have her ring for New Years. In fact, I remember Jessica saying to me how much she'd love to have it back too. Jessica asked me to call the jewelers to see if there is any way it might be ready yet. So I call the girl I got the ring from and tell her I want to surprise my fiancée with the ring early. She doesn't think they will have it finished in time, but asks anyway. The guy working on the ring liked what I had in mind, enough that he said he'd finish it today! Talk about great service. Of course I tell Jessica that it wont' be ready. I'm such a sneak!

We're all at the Ranch, but Jessica still doesn't have her ring. 5 minutes to midnight! I go into my parents motor home to pour everyone some champagne. We had those little plastic champagne glasses with the removable bases. I give Jessica her glass and tell her I knew it was her glass because it had her "wine charm" on it. "What?" she said. Looking at her glass, she sees her ring on it's base. Happy New Year, Honey!