Thursday the 28th was a special day for another reason...Tony proposed :-)
After taking the hire car for a spin up the coast we stopped in to see Mum and Dad. I didn't realise this, but while Tony was taking my Dad for a lap around the block he asked him if he could propose. What a sweetheart! I had no idea - I mistook his nerves and him being anxious to pick up some party supplies from a mate's place before it was too late.
After we left the burbs, Tony said we needed to stop in to Riparian Plaza as his mate Andrew had a present for him. I didn't think anything of this - Tony has the work contract for Riparian and I just thought Andrew was working late. I started to think things were a bit weird when Andrew met us at the car, told Tony where his present was and then left. Hmmm....
Riparian Plaza is currently the tallest building in Brisbane with 38 office floors, topped off with a pool deck and then another dozen or so levels of exclusive apartments. It's a beautiful building. We caught the private lift to the pool deck - floor to ceiling glass windows with breathtaking views of Brisbane by night, the Story Bridge and suburbs twinkling in the dark.
By this time - after a long day of hair blowing in the wind, too much food and wine and seeing family - I was pretty exhausted and not feeling terribly romantic. And I was busting for the loo. So after a short intermission while miss jen attended to nature, Tony resumed his "present unwrapping".
The present from Andrew turned out to be a long stemmed red rose and two mini-bottles of champers which we enjoyed while admiring the views and million-dollar fancy swimming pool lit up at night. Hmmm... Couple that with Tony saying something romantic and then...holy crap...he's getting down on one knee...*this is where my memory completely escapes me* I think I started crying and laughing at the same time.
Tony pulled out a ring box and I remember thinking "oh my gosh, this is really real! And what if I don't like the ring!" Crazy brain! Tony popped open the ring box and I could just make out the sparkle in the dark. Realising we weren't in the best light, Tony's grabbed me and dragged me to under some better lighting and re-opened the box.
Tony: Here it is...
Jen: Oh my gosh........sob, laugh, sob
Tony: Do you like it...?
Jen: It's beautiful.....sob, laugh, sob
Tony:.......well?
Jen: Get down on your knee again....sob, laugh, sob
Tony:....groan as lowers onto aging knees...
Jen: Put the ring on my finger....sob, laugh, sob
Tony: Well, what do you say?!?! Will you marry me?!
Jen: YES!!!
Ring goes on finger, hug, sob, laugh, hug etc...
It was such an incredibly special moment for us. And the comedy was so very Tony and Jen.
After ringing my folks and my sister, we dropped in to see Fi with the special news. I think she just about died of shock. And other than telling Tony's Dad and my grandmothers, we managed to keep it quiet until after Tony cut the cake at his birthday party on the Saturday night. It was a long two days to keep my mouth shut...
