So after figuring that out and then realizing that the last couple posts weren't very upbeat sadly, i decided i want to share a wonderful day back in October that changed my life. The proposal!
Brooks' parents go to the Outter Banks every year for a week in October. And we've always been invited, but since i was in school the last two years, it never coincided with my fall break and missing studio classes for even a day was a lot to bear. So we never went. That changed this year since I'm no longer in school. And since Brooks had vacation time, we decided to go for it! We were going to be at the glorious beach for a week!! I was more than a little excited!!
We got up early, packed up the truck and off we went! First stop of course...Starbucks! The drive was long, roughly 5 1/2 hours, but well worth it! And to me, a car ride that's 5 or 6 hours is nothing compared to the long 15+ hour days i spent driving across the country. My 5 year anniversary of that trip out here would be during this week at the beach, so i had even more excitement! But by the time we got there, i had totally forgotten about it. Brooks, i would discover, hadn't.
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| I thought he was being cute...sun was in his eyes. |
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| The little crab fellow |
The first couple days at the beach were relaxing and so wonderful!! Very needed!! We took long walks on the beach, ran into a few friends from Greensboro along the way, found a crab...which i whisper-freaked out about!! I'd never seen a live crab just walkin around on the beach just chillin before!
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| Oregon Inlet...which i found, HILARIOUS!! |
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| Where the Wright Bros. took their first flight |
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| Currituck Lighthouse... |
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| The painting i did of Currituck Lighthouse...based on the pic above |
We got back in the car and kept driving north. We were heading to Currituck Lighthouse. Which in October is the only lighthouse you can actually still walk up to the top of. When we got there i decided i needed to test my blood sugar to make sure I'd be ok to walk up that many stairs (9 flights) without passing out or getting to the top and having to rush back down. It was low and all i had on me were a handful (like literally 10) M&M's. I ate them, but was still hesitant since it would take more than that to get to a good level.
We got to the entrance of the lighthouse and on a sign it said what the fee was to go in. We had $3 cash on us, and a debit card. Which on the sign, said they didn't take. Brooks started sort of freaking out. Which i found strange, but let it go since i was still kind of low. He then shrieked at me and said, "WAIT!! DID WE BRING THE CHECKBOOK?!" to which i replied, "Yea, because everyone brings a checkbook on vacation. No love. Sorry". He was panicking and started to get really bummed out. Which did seem strange, but again...low blood sugar didn't help me realize it until later. At that point in the day and after all that walking in shoes without socks, my blisters had blisters on them and my legs were killing me from the long walk on the soft sand the day before. To be perfectly honest, i was ready to go home. So i asked him, "Is it really that important that we go up?" Brooks shrieked again, "YES!! The view is AMAZING!! Think of your pictures!!" He had me there. I'm a scrapbooker. Dammit! So i suggested we go back to the grocery store a couple miles back and get some juice for me, get cash and come back. That seemed to alleviate some of his odd hysteria.
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| The last pic i would ever take of my boyfriend Brooks |
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| A very winding 9 story staircase |
We got back to the lighthouse, and met a lovely little old lady who took our money for the fee, and handed us an info pamphlet. I told her about how i wasn't sure about these stairs. Another woman who had just come down heard me and said, "Don't worry. It's not that bad. If i can do it, you can do it!!" So up we went.
It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, but i was walking up each flight kinda slow. My legs were super sore from walking on the beach the last couple days, plus all the stairs a couple dozen times a day. Out of shape, i was!! Lol!
We got to the top after what felt like a million stairs, and as i walked out the door at the top, i was blown away! The views were stunning!! The pics don't do it justice!! Breathtaking is a severe understatement!!
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| The view!! Pics don't do it justice!! It's AMAZING!!! |
I had been standing in one place while Brooks walked around the deck. I just couldn't get over how gorgeous it was!! Now i was very glad that we didn't turn back and instead went to get cash. All of the people who were on the deck when we got there had left, so we had the entire place to ourselves to take it all in and just enjoy in peace. Brooks took me to the other side to see that view, which again...STUNNING!!!
We stood there for a moment in silence. Listening to the far off waves, the wind and the birds. Brooks took my hand, kissed it and said that he loved me. To which i replied that i loved him too. Still holding my hand, he kissed it again, which wasn't out of the ordinary. He does that. But then, he bent down on one knee!! I shrieked, "OH MY GAWD!!" And in my head, i said to myself, 'Ok, shut up!! You need to stop talking so you remember this...silence!!' He didn't have a big long speech, which was fine by me as it was so shocking to me that this was happening, that i wouldn't have remembered all of what he said anyway! He had a simple question, "Will you marry me?" I burst into tears, and without a second of hesitation, said "YES!!"
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| I SAID YES!!!!! |
We got to the bottom and i told the lady who had taken our money about it. She told us that there have been a good many proposals on the top, and she loves hearing about them. Then she gave us stickers that showed we had climbed Currituck Lighthouse and headed on our way.
We took a few more pictures before heading out of the gate. We made a brief stop at the restrooms before heading to the car. I came out of the ladies room and Brooks was waiting for me, doing something on his phone. He looked at me and said, "Well. That's done!" I said, "What, the proposal?" to which he replied and said, "No. Telling everyone on Facebook!" I was stunned! He doesn't get onto FB much anymore, and i had actually thought we'd call some people first before we announced it on social media, like my mom and his grandmother, and my sister...but i went with it and updated my status as well. Then we headed back to Avon where 7 anxious people were waiting for us.
On the way we made a couple more stops. One at a very delicious wine and cheese store called Trio. If you get to Kitty Hawk NC, do yourself a favor and go there!! They have an amazing selection of wine, beer, glassware in every shape, color, size and price as well as a bistro! In addition to the aforementioned items...they have this cheese counter that is....just WOW!! It's huge! And they are so kind and will let you try any and all the cheese you want so you can decide on which cheeses to buy! And they take their time...no need to rush you out the door. They like talking about cheese as much as i like eating it, so this was a great stop!! After purchasing some wine and cheeses, we went on back down the road. Our last stop was at the grocery store for champagne to celebrate. I know good wine, but champagne isn't my forte, so cheap is fine by me. It was about this time that it had hit me...almost 3 hours later, that i no longer had a boyfriend. I had a fiance'!! I was engaged!! ENGAGED!!! To say i was happy...yea, that just doesn't cut it.
When we got back to the house, we brought all our stuff in from the truck, and headed up to the third floor where the living room and kitchen were. We walked up that last flight of stairs and walked into everyone getting ready for dinner. Excitement ensued!! We popped some champagne and toasted with everyone.
Then i heard the rest of the story...
So the day before, Sherrie went with Brooks to run to the store for a couple small things for dinner. Apparently they had a chat and he told her his plan. She was the only living soul who knew what his plans were that next day. See, the day he proposed...the 21st of October, was my 5th anniversary of leaving Oregon for North Carolina. I had always celebrated that day. Usually to myself. A silent toast, or just a day remembering the trip out. It was the day that i had finally taken control of my own life for the first time in 30 years. So it was a big day to me. And Brooks had always remembered that. The year before i made mention of it, and somehow he had logged that day in his memory bank. Once we knew we were going to OBX for the week and my "Greensaversary" would fall during the trip, he started planning.
Before we left that morning there were 3 trips back into the house for things. The first time it was the phone charger, the second was for Sundrop (if you aren't on the East Coast, you're missing out!! Best soda EVER!!!), and the last trip took me back to the kitchen/living room looking for my sunglasses. We had made it to the end of the street when i realized i needed them. I'm super sensitive to the sun so i can't go far without them. Even in the winter. Brooks backed the truck up, and i ran up the stairs on the outside of the house to the third floor. I heard excited chatting inside, but didn't pay attention to what anyone was actually saying before bursting through the door. The chatting stopped instantly. The ladies all looked at me and Sherrie shrieked, "Now what did you forget?!" I laughed, and said i couldn't be out without my sunglasses and i had no idea where they were!! Found them on the table by the couch, and went running back down the stairs, yelling goodbye...for the 4th time that morning. Seems the ladies, (Sherrie (Brooks' mom), and our friends Caroline and Debbie) had walked in on Brooks Sr. & Sherrie whispering and grinning earlier in the morning as she had told him what was going on, and they had figured out what was about to happen. So they were all talking about the news that Sherrie had found out the night before. They were all very excited! Good thing my hearing isn't very good!!
ALLLLLL this to say...October 21st i now think of in a different way. Taking control of my life, led me to the greatest love of my life!! And for that...i am one very thankful and lucky girl!!
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| Currituck Lighthouse will forever be "our" lighthouse. |
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| The next day on Ocracoke Island the next day. We both felt like crap, and were cold, but i love the look on Brooks' face in this pic!! |
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