 | Where to start??...(Brides view)
I was ready to get away for the weekend and no place to better go than my favorite city, CHICAGO! If I could have a second home I would have one in the windy city, Jimmy agrees too. Chicago is the place we took our first trip together when we started dating. I suggested a couple weeks prior that we should take a trip up to Chicago. We both agreed on a weekend coming up and would leave after work on Friday afternoon. Since I work right next to I-65 North, Jimmy had the idea to take me to work that morning and pick me up after work. We could then head right to the windy city, so we did. (of course I am all about planning and that was a brillant idea) We were both so excited through the day and couldn't wait to get away. Of course once 4:30 hit I was out the door and off we went. We did usual things on the drive like dance and sing, acting like our normal. :) Once we got close, we had decided to stop and see my Grandma Tubbs. We had not got to see her for Christmas and wanted to catch up with her, so we stopped on the way. After visiting my Grandma, we hopped back in the car to go catch our train into the city. We always park the car at the train station in Dune State park and ride the Southshore train into Chicago. (It's a very fun adventure for those of you that have not tried it) This next part is a laugh when I think about it now. Once we got to the train station and sat waiting on the next westbound to Chicago, I somehow started a conversation about getting married. (leave it to me!) It was just small chit-chat, but Jimmy seemed to wonder "why are we talking about this?" (as we have many times before) I simply stated "haha, I dont know". We boarded the train and had a 45 minute ride ahead of us. It was one heck of a ride as we had a group of four friends behind us talking about anything under the sun. The seats are somewhat close quarters on the train and we were right next to each other. I started to get tired. I laid my head on Jimmy's shoulder, but he was figiting non-stop. I finally gave up, just thinking it was very close quarters making him figit. As we approached the city, we gathered our things and headed off towards our hotel. We started down Randolph street where there was a Macy's departement store with a window display filled with nothing but bridal and wedding stuff. Let's say it was a long block with me saying "oooo--ahhhhhh, thats pretty!". Jimmy looked at the windows and hurried to get down the very long city block. (I chuckle now because I am sure this was some kind of sign to Jimmy..haha)
Once arriving to the hotel I must say I was exhausted after working all day and traveling the later half of the day, so we hit the sack. Saturday morning it was up early to soak in our favorite city. We headed towards Michigan Avenue, which is a favorite spot for us in the city. :) After I spent oh an hour or so in the HUGE Forever 21, we headed to grab a bite to eat. Jimmy had researched a place over in Wrigleyville that was suppose to be a great place, so off we went. Once hailing a taxi, we jumped in and before you knew it we had arrived at the restuarant. After seeing the taxi driver take off, we arrive to the front door only to find they were closed for "vacation". We both chuckled and then Jimmy became frustrated that the $20 taxi ride was indeed a waste. So we started walking to see what else was in the neighborhood and found a little BBQ place, so in we went. After eating lunch and watching all the people get on and off the city bus, we figured lets get on and see where it takes us. So we did. Once on the bus, we again were in very close quarters and Jimmy kept saying "I'm hot" I guess to keep me from getting too close?? (i'll tell why in a few) So the bus was headed towards downtown, but did not go all the way, so we jumped off right in front of the "Redline" aka the subway. I said, "hey I have never been on one, let's take it downtown!", and so we did! Again, very close quarters and Jimmy doing a lot of figiting. We debated on which stop to get off on and ended up right downtown. We felt like naturals. Once we got up to the street level, Jimmy said he wanted to go look for a new pair of shoes, so off we went. Once walking just a few blocks he said, "let's go down by the bridge". (it was the opposite way of where he just wanted to go?) So me not thinking anything at all, we head to the bridge on Michigan Ave. It was then time to cross over Michigan to end up right in front of the NBC building. In the middle, there is a median where Jimmy dropped his gloves, but I kept walking. Once I arrived to the other side of the street Jimmy was not far behind me. He stood in front of me and it was an odd couple of seconds until I realized he was getting on his knee. I said out loud to him, "you are not funny, stop kidding." As he has joked and acted before about proposal. So he was now on one knee and rustling in his upper-inner jacket pocket. So I just kept saying "stopping joking, thats not nice". And sure enough he pulls out a ring box. This time I did not say anything, but thought to myself, boy he is taking this joke to the extreme! Sure enough he opens the ring box and it is a beautiful engagement ring! I was speechless and he was talking...........I have never felt shock like I did that moment, I was speechless and excited all at once. The only problem, I just stood there with my mouth open trying to say YES, but nothing was coming out. So after about ten minutes of huge shock and not being able to speak one word, I said YES!! I was not the only nervous one because later on our way to a nice dinner to celebrate Jimmy said he had so much he wanted to say but had forgot it all once he was on his knee. He then stated the things he had wanted to say in the moment leading up to asking me to be his wife. It was a great rest of the day and weekend in our favorite city!! I am still getting used to being a fiance and looking down to see we are ENGAGED!! Jimmy's goal was to catch me off guard and catch me by surprise, he definitely did catch me by surprise!!
Oh and the figiting, not wanting to be in close quarters was because he had the ring in his upper inner jacket pocket the whole weekend! He said he was afraid I would feel it and say "what's that!" (which I totally would have done!) I must say he did a great job at picking out the ring. It has a little of what I like and a little of what he likes, perfect! We are both very happy and cant wait to be husband and wife.
I am happy to say I am the soon-to-be Mrs. Jimmy Bryant!!
Photograph at the top is right after he asked me to marry him! Photo at the bottom is a celebration dinner the night of the proposal!!! LOVE |
