I proposed this weekend.

Erin and I have been dating for 3.5 years, but it feels like a new relationship after I proposed.  There is a shift of views or paradigms or whatever word you would like to use as you go on your way to marriage.  The commitment factor and the use of stronger words of endearment change your perception of your relationship.  Now it feels closer, more real, more a part of me… less externalized.

I had big dreams for the proposal.  First I was going to propose up at a resort in the Blue Mountains on the Friday but Erin told me she was too tired to go.  Then I had an idea of proposing at Lime Cay – a tiny island which is a 10 minute boat ride off the coast of Kingston.  Of course though as we lay in bed chatting on Saturday morning the timing just seemed right to do it then.  Unfortunately I remembered the ring was shoved into one of my soccer socks and started laughing to myself with visions of throwing a sock at Erin, giving her a wink and asking her to marry me.  She asked me what was up and why I was laughing… I told her it was my own little internal joke… she told me I wasn’t allowed an internal jokes.. I said fine “I’m laughing because I’m nervous because I want to ask you to marry me”… I walked over and got the ring and came back on one knee and asked… she said yes.

Of course the ring didn’t fit and then when we went to the store we decided to try different rings on as well which resulted in the selection of a new ring.

I’m still not sure where we will do it, we’ll decide over Christmas when we start talking to our families.  I’d love to do it in Jamaica – the ability to share the beauty of Jamaica with family and friends would be unbelievable.  Right now I’m at a hotel in a valley in the Blue Mountains… it is unbelievably quiet and peaceful here.  I’d love to show people what it is like here.  And I’d love to have one really lasting memory of Jamaica.

On the other hand I’d also love to have lots of people at the wedding – and the cost of people coming to Jamaica is high which will reduce the number of people.  It’s a tough choice but I’m sure we’ll figure it out and wherever it is I’m sure we’ll have a blast.

But to close off there are two things we do know for sure – Erin will be a Martell forever and there won’t be a church within 40 miles of the wedding.