Six Years

In January of 2000, I flew home from Costa Rica expecting my family and SB to be waiting for me at the airport, but it was just SB. There he was, with a picnic packed by my favorite restaurant. After collecting my bags, we enjoyed our feast right there in the airport. He told me that we were going to go see a movie at the IMAX. Before I left, we had discussed seeing Fantasia there, and I was just happy to be home and with him, so I was game. We drove up to the Seattle Center, and I didn’t even notice when we walked right past the IMAX and up to a side door of the Pacific Science Center. SB knocked and a guy answered, who he said was a friend of his who was going to let us into the Butterfly House while we waited for the movie to start.

Tropical Butterfly House
Originally uploaded by picture_ho.

You are probably thinking this all sounds pretty fishy, getting let in to an exhibit at 11:00 at night when the museum is closed, but like I said, I was just happy to be home and probably a little travel loopy.

I like butterflies*, so I was giddy, darting about, pointing out the ones I had seen in real life in Costa Rica. It was so amazing to see them flying all around, so close. SB asked me to come over and check out this fountain. I remember thinking, “Fountain? Have you seen these butterflies?” but then I noticed how much he was sweating, and I started to think that maybe something as up.

And then he was down on his knee, telling me how much he loved me, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and pulling a small fuzzy box from his pocket! I was blown away. We had never even talked about getting married before this moment. We had said forever-type things, but never “we should get married.”

I said yes right away, and we spent the next half hour or so, hugging and squealing and all the things you do. At one point, an iridescent green and yellow butterfly landed on his shoulder. It was so magical.

The lights had been steadily dimming, and soon all the butterflies were in bed and we had to leave. We left the room to find a couple of Science Center employees waiting for us, smiling and clapping.

August 2006 145
Originally uploaded by picture_ho.

(married before the digital age)

* I know! So weird.

note:

The above image of the Butterfly house was “borrowed” from the Pacific Science Center. Those people were not actually present for the proposal.

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Thank you for choosing me, SB. You are such a good man and a wonderful partner. You fill my life with laughter and I am so lucky to have you.

Happy Anniversary