05/25/09

Who would have known that a wonderful 9-day vacation in Canada would end in an engagement?

It all started June 30th when 4 couples descended on Canmore (near Banff) Canada on a golf-holiday.  We had an incredibly amazing five days of fun and laughter. We filled our days with three digit golf scores, many Mike's hard lemonades, a few shepherd's pies and some zany behavior. 

After our five days of fun, we parted ways and Ray and I headed up the Icefield Parkway to Jasper National Park and began part II of our wonderful vacation.  

Part II... The Proposal

On July 7, 2000 we began our day with a humorous game of golf at the municipal golf course in Hinton.  I should have known something was in the air when we got paired with a coal-miner and his "nun" aunt and I had to hear about 105 times, "your shot sista'."  We returned to our bed and breakfast, relaxed for a few hours and went on a drive to see one of the beautiful lakes in the area.

We ended our road-trip at    where we began the rest of our evening sitting by the lake, enjoying some wine and watching as the sun set at 11 o'clock.  We moved inside by the great big fireplace to enjoy more wine and a wonderful meal.  Here is where the story really begins... (although Ray might have a slightly different version).

The story starts when they brought out our second carafe of wine...

 and Ray makes a toast saying...

• Here is to spending the rest of our lives together

and Srima responds with what could be interpreted as a sarcastic remark....

• I'll believe it when I see it

Little did I know that I would never live that comment down....

After some more wine and laughter, we left the lodge and went to relax by the lake.  I should have known something was up when we sat down on a bench only to find that it was wet and Ray said to sit down anyway and that it didn't matter. (Below are pictures of the lodge and the lake.)

After we sit down, Ray reminds me that it is 07-07 and asks me if I am feeling lucky.  Then we talk about how lucky we are to find each other and how wonderful the vacation has been.  Ray and I were more affectionate than usual which I attributed at the time to maybe the wine and/or the great setting - I had no idea that the "specialness" of the evening would also be due to a wonderful surprise that Ray had in store.

Then.... well I can't tell you everything so I will just end the story by saying that it ends up with Ray pulling out the most beautiful ring I have ever seen and asking me to marry him.  Needless to say I was overwhelmed with emotion and happily answered with a yes (after an inquisitive "are you serious?" remark).

We went back to the lodge and had champagne and waited till the next day to start spreading the news.

I hope you enjoyed our story...

Thanks for all your support.