When I met Jess, I had taken a break from the dating scene. Online dating sounded a little more promising then happening upon a person at a bar, so I signed up. When Jess and I met, I wasn't looking for anything beyond getting to know someone. But good things often come when you least expect it. On the first date, I didn't have any preconceived notions about where I wanted things to go. However, after a night of effortless conversation and lots of laughs, I knew I had to recalibrate my approach. I certainly hadn't stumbled on to just any old girl. She was a keeper and I knew it. So, I upped my game and got to know a wonderful person over the next couple months. We've been inseparable ever since.

The plan was simple...take her away, have a great dinner and pop the question as dusk settled over Lake Erie. That was the plan. However, Ohio weather had other things to say about it. We drove up to Geneva-on-the-Lake for a getaway. It was sunny, oh so sunny. But at 38 degrees and 30 mile an hour winds, the weather had put some serious strain on my simple plan. Reservations for dinner were at 7, then we would go on a walk and I would propose. Only one little problem with my simple plan; there is absolutely no reason to take a walk at 8 at night, when its 38 degrees with 30 mile an hour winds roaring off of Lake Erie. So I improvised and moved up the timeline. We arrived at the hotel and went down to the bar, where I hastily put away two glasses of red wine. "Let's take a walk" I say. "Why" she says, "it's cold and windy." "Yeah, but let's just take a walk." The lake was angry. The waves were seriously imposing with that much wind rolling off the lake. We walked around for awhile to throw her off the scent. I knew there was a gazebo up by the lake shore (do your homework guys). I walk into the gazebo and there is a painted rock the size of my hand sitting on the railing. "I wonder what that is," I said so she would walk up with her back to me. She picked up the rock and turned around while saying "I don't know what it is." She turned to find me on one knee with my arm outstretched holding the ring. The only words I could muster, "Well, I know what THIS is!" The rest of the speech was forever lost in the cacophony of the howling wind, but after what seemed like a lifetime, I was able to make out a distinct "Yes!" and that suited me just fine.