The Bachelorette Finale, Oh the Romance
Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009
by Brianna Popsickle
"Are you crying?"
"Yes," I replied, reaching for the Kleenex.
I was watching the finale of the Bachelorette with my daughter. Handsome and loveable Ed Swiderski, had just proposed to Jillian Harris. It was, of course, very romantic and every girl's dream.
I'm sure my daughter, twenty-one, was wistfully thinking of the day she would hear those magical words "I love you, will you marry me?"
I was twenty-three and had just had an argument with my boyfriend. He was living in the basement of a motel. I had come up for the weekend to spend time with him by the pool. We had invited a couple and their two young children as well. It rained the entire time and the kids had gone a little stir crazy, to say the least. Let's just say the weekend could have gone better.
It was Sunday afternoon and the couple had just left, screaming children in tow. It was pouring rain and miserable outside, and we were feeling equally miserable. My boyfriend worked as a television news reporter, and we were getting ready to go cover a Motor Cross event.
And that's when it happened. Out of nowhere, he was down on one knee. I was totally caught off-guard.
"We've had a crummy weekend, we've had a stupid argument, we're in this crummy apartment, and we're going to spend the day in the rain watching cars drive through the mud. I know you'd marry me when things are good, but tell me you'll marry me now, and I promise you it will never get worse than this, and it will never be dull."
I so wanted to be mad at him for the argument we had just had, but instead I threw my arms around his neck and said, "You know I will."
Now it's not the stuff the "Bachelor" or "Bachelorette" are made of, but it still makes me smile when I think of it.
Truly a romantic, the ring' portion of our engagement, a couple of weeks later, was even more memorable.
I was at a function with co-workers. (OK, we were at a bar after work) and my fianc' joined us there. He had borrowed my car.
"I hate to tell you this, but your car is really acting up, come take a look."
We got to the parking lot and I could see the hood was propped up.
"There's the problem," he said, pointing under the hood.
I looked to see a rose lying on the engine and next to it was a box. He reached for it, got down on one need and asked me to marry him all over again, this time slipping the ring on my finger. Not only was it romantic, but very original. How many girls can say they got engaged under the hood of a car in the parking lot of a raunchy' bar?
The memory made me smile. I went downstairs to join my husband. I started to tell him about the Bachelorette finale.
"It was so romantic," I started.
"Just a minute, he interrupted. I have to see this."
He was deeply engrossed in the TV. Ultimate Fighting was on.
"I have to see this. It's a title match, Anderson Silva is fighting."
"Hmmm." I replied.
I waited a moment.
"What did you want to tell me?" he asked, not looking up, eyes still on the TV.
"Jillian chose Ed!" I began again.
"Hmmm." he replied.
I went to the phone and called my girlfriend.
"Did you see the finale?"
Just then I heard loud hooting and cheering from the family room, the fight was over. I had to laugh.
I was reminded of the lyrics to a favourite Carly Simon song,
And you feel closed in by the same four walls
The same old conversation
With the same old guy you've know for years
But use your imagination
And you will see....
It's the stuff that dreams are made of
It's the slow and steady fire
It's the stuff that dreams are made of
It's your heart and soul's desire
What if the Prince on the horse in your fairytale
Is right here in disguise
And what if the stars you've been reaching so high for
Are shining in his eyes
The song rang true for me.
Years later, fairytale proposal or not, I'd say "Yes" all over again.
I am currently compiling a collection of "Weird and Wonderful Marriage Proposals," for publication. If you have a weird or wacky proposal you would like to share, please forward it to me at Briannapopsickle@live.com Thank you!
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Brianna, I loved the article and I love the song you used to drive your point home. Thanks. This was a refreshing read.
Thanks Lorrie. Check it out, it's a great song. :)
Very interesting reading and I can identify with some of the article. Nice articleThank you. I'm curious as to what part you can identify with. :)"We had a stupid argument." Before she knew what hit her, I had the ring glittering in her eyes. I even wrote a book of it, "A Heaven At Its Best." It ended up what I thought was the relationship that rivaled Solomon and the Shulamite Maiden in the Song of Solomon.How interesting! Thanks for getting back to me.
I'm not crying! I'm NOT crying!Great article!We know you're not crying Ken. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) :)Good to hear from you.
I'm a romantic one too, Brianna. I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Thank you!I'm glad you enjoyed it Avis! Thanks for the comment.
Great article. Well done.Even if the proposal was not fairytale - the shock factor must have counted for something.Yes, he got points for the 'shock factor'. I'm glad you enjoyed the article Connor. Do you have a wierd or wonderful marriage proposal you'd like to share? :)I asked around for you but have not found anything yet. Or at least anything amazing or funny.
Brianna,Wonderful true tale. So true. As great as the TV proposal may have been, the difficulties, pains, sadness, and problems are the backbone for a good marriage. Then the good times are even better!NancyYou're right about that Nancy. Thanks for commenting!
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