The engagement...

So, remember back in February when I told you all that big things were happening in my life? Then, I tried to play off the big things as my trip to London and AGIS? (Lame, I know.) Well, actually the big thing was that on Feb. 1st, Jason went to my parents and asked for their blessing. It was an especially super Superbowl Sunday.

Since then we've been planning, organizing, dreaming and decision-making about the wedding non-stop and even though I'm far from home (where the wedding will take place) I'm enjoying the process. (More on this at a later date. I know what you want... the big knee-dirty story!

When Jason arrived, I knew he would propose at some point during the trip. We had limited opportunities and had an appointment for engagement pictures scheduled for the Monday before he left. I predicted he wouldn't pop the question the day he arrived or the day afterward (too soon), but would before we left for our travels (so we could call people and tell them the good, yet already established news). Well, on Friday I opened my big mouth and said, "I bet you'll propose on the day you shave." At the time, I didn't know that he was planning to shave on Saturday and propose that day, but in his mind there was no connection between the two acts. Well, no connection until I pointed it out. As many of you know one of my childhood nicknames was Bossy Brooke. This personality quirk has remained with me and Jason is careful to not let me get away with bossing him around... so he decided to hold the proposal back a day

Saturday rolls around and J and I spend the day being touristy (while I anticipate the proposal). We had a great day, but when it ended... no ring.

On Sunday I woke up and thought, "Today is it! I'm going to bring him to all of the romantic places in Berlin. Are there romantic places in Berlin?" After some shower brainstorming I came up with a game plan. I was going to help set the stage for a beautiful moment.

First, we went to brunch at my second favorite brunch place. It is cozy, has a tasty buffet, and is intimate. What could be sweeter? My coffee even included a hint...

After brunch, we went to the Pergammon Museum. In this museum they reassembled an entire Greek temple. Just entering the main hall full of that ancient marble makes me swoon. The stories of Zeus and Athena, Hercules and the gang are so dramatic, just as we are. As we entered we were given headsets... not so romantic.

When we left the Pergammon, we decided to go to the Berliner Dom, a beautiful church and climb to the top for breath-taking views of Berlin. It was warm, we were (are) in love, the moment was right... although there were several loud Texan tourists asking (loudly) about the sights...

After the Berliner Dom crypt (no, thanks), I thought we might sit in the grassy at the Lustgarten, but Jason wanted a wurst in the worst way. (I couldn't help myself.) I live to please, so...

It was nearly 3:45 and I was a bit exasperated at this point. Berlin is not a very romantic city. Historical? Yes. Fascinating? Yes. Multi-cultural? Yes. Romantic? No. Finding places which say, "Love me do," is not as simple as I'm making it appear on the blog. So, I asked Jason if he had something to do next in mind. He mentioned a walking tour my friend Katy had told us about, so we strolled down Unter den Linden to meet the group. When we got to the meeting spot at the Brandenburg Gate we discovered that the 4 pm tour was a myth. So, we went to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

As I mentioned, Berlin is not so romantic and this place could be on Letterman's Top Ten least romantic places in the world next to the Congo and the denk midget hole under the stairs at BHS. After pondering the meaning of the memorial, we decided to explore the museum under the monument. At this point the Indian food we'd had on Friday was upsetting me and I was in a serious search for a restroom. It was a good thing I was distracted because... the museum under the memorial had a metal detector. I went through the detector first and the clerk told Jason to empty his pockets. Little did I know, the ring was in his pocket. Jason had been carrying it all day, waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question. Later, he told me that he tried to conceal the ring under a chapstick. Very cool. :)

After touring the museum we took a walk through the Tiergarten, a beautiful, sprawling park near the main sites of Berlin. As we strolled hand-in-hand we chatted about nothing and everything. The day was sunny, we were grateful to be alive, and happy-in-love. Perfect, right? Then, Jason saw a golden domed statue in the distance and we decided to walk toward it. As we approached, we saw... Mozart and two of his cronies. Jason has a serious devotion to Wolfie and my heart started to pound. Did he look up this statue? Did he bring me here for a reason? Does he want to get his knee dirty in front of Amadeus? I just kept thinking, "not here not here not here not here not here." Jay must have heard my thoughts because after a series of photos we kept walking. It was near 6 pm at this point and we had dinner plans with Katy and her family, so we decided to go back to my apartment for a break and to clean-up.

We returned to my apartment where I checked my email to see a message from my Aunt Mary Ellen asking if Jason had proposed yet and asking what the ring looked like. I thought about pulling out my hair, but instead I announced that I was going to take a nap. Jason perched on the edge of my bed as I got under the covers and started to check his email. We were chatting and then he started to tease me. I announced that I was sleeping and pulled the covers over my head. Then he said, "Pull the covers down." I grumped, "no!" After repeating the previous phrase, he slowly pulled down the cover and I saw a sparkling diamond hanging over my head. I grinned and sat up as he held my hands. Then, J launched into a story about through the day he was looking and waiting for the perfect moment. Unfortunately, Berlin isn't our place and the only perfect place could be at my apartment because it is where "we" spend our time (online and on the phone albeit). He then spoke lovely, beautiful words to me (which I plan on keeping private) and finally got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said, "Yeah!"

Here we are on the subway heading out to dinner as an engaged couple. Notice the well-placed hand!