So, the quick story... he picked me up from the airport late Sunday night, and as we were driving back he asked if he could take me out for a date on Wednesday night. Now, such advance planning of dates is highly unusual for Pace, and unprecedented for a non-special weekday. So i confess my suspicions were aroused... but as we'd never gone ring shopping, and I didn't even know the 4 C's, let alone my ring size/ preference, I figured it was probably gonna be just an engagement planning/ ring shopping exercise.
But, on Tuesday night, he tells me to "Go to bed, you have a big day tomorrow." ?!! Finally, Wednesday rolls around, and we go out to dinner at the restaurant where we'd had our first date, and he plays a mix of songs that starts with one about Valerie and that all sound very familiar, and then we go to the Tidal Basin for a walk (despite the cold and damp and Pace's long-held dislike for the cold). It was a beautiful night. We walk around the Tidal Basin, stopping occasionally to admire the view and once for him to tie my shoelace (thankfully he did not seize that particular opportunity)... and end up at the DC World War Memorial. The last is a lovely little classical pagoda nestled in the middle of a little forested area. He has to carry me up to it because it was quite muddy (from the afore-mentioned rain). Finally, he recites a poem that he'd written and memorized... for all those who do not know Pace, he is a quant guy and not naturally given to poetry... but it was quite clever and very sweet. And then he proposed. And, after trying on the ring (beautiful, if currently too big), dallying slightly and making him feel just a little nervous, I accepted. (of course!)
