The Adventures of Dave & Steph

The details as they happened….

So Dave had asked me to go with him to the Mountain View Grand Resort (http://www.mountainviewgrand.com/) a few months ago. This was to be a business retreat for the R&D staff for SW along with their significant others. I sort of hesitated at first. I remember when he went last year. I believe I was in Nashville Tennessee and I believe he didn’t have any cell phone reception there so it was difficult to touch base with him. Regardless, I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to go. Travel for work isn’t up there on my list of favorite things to do but once Dave explained what type of business trip it would be (consisting of only 2 meetings) and that we’d get to spend time at a beautiful resort that he’d never been to somewhere near Mount Washington New Hampshire I decided it would be foolish if I didn’t go. So I told him to sign me up.

As our trip approached, I had just returned from the Northwest Territories of Canada for work and my family had just come to visit us in Madison, so I was happy it was coming. Sort of like a little time together before we closed out the summer.  I was also a little anxious about it too. Dave reassured me that we would have a super time and not to worry.

In fact we did have a super time. Upon arrival at Logan sometime close to 11pm on Tuesday the 13^th I knew that it would be a relaxing time ahead of us. Dave picked me up and we drove back to Concord for the night which is where he was staying the previous night as he went out a day before me.  We went to sleep pretty quickly and woke up on the late side. We went to the restaurant on the first floor, had a great breakfast, and headed off to see the Concord office. I got to meet several people that I hear him talk about on a daily basis.

From there we started out for our trip to Whitefield NH. It was roughly a 3 hour drive. We stopped along the way in Plymouth for some lunch and get to the resort just in time to leave for our kayaking trip. It was so much better than I ever thought it would be. We were seemingly gliding across the water. We were out in the small lake for about an hour. Then it was time to head back to get ready for the reception and dinner. We sat with a group of people Dave knew and after dinner Dave had the first of his two obligatory meetings. I met up with Tom’s girlfriend Shannon and we had a cocktail and sat on the front porch waiting for the boys. Finally they came. It was close to 10:30pm. We were pretty tired so we said good night to the others and headed off to bed. The next morning came and Dave got up early to hit his second meeting. It started at 7:30am but I got up with him and went swimming shortly thereafter. I met him on the front porch again close to 10am for our scheduled hike. We met the guide (a teenager working through the summer) and two other guys that Dave works with but didn’t really know. Since no one else showed up we headed out towards the trail. We first walked by the horse barn…yick…it’s never been something I could stand. Then we started to walk into the mud. It had been raining a lot there in the last few weeks and the mud was deep and considerably mixed being right next to the barn and all. I asked the girl before I left if I could wear flip flops…she said it would be ok…it wasn’t. As we walked my shoe got stuck in the mud and came off my foot. I was totally grossed out and I told the guys that I wanted to head back. Finally everyone agreed. We started back towards the golf course which was also saturated and decided that would conclude the tour. So Dave and I started to walk back towards the main hotel. The night before I had seen these chairs on top of this little hill and had taken some pictures from them so I pointed them out to Dave. He said we should walk up there and relax for a little bit before lunch. So we got to the top of the hill and plopped into the chairs. THEN Dave started talking. The conversation got serious and I knew it was definitely important. So I became less relaxed in my chair and turned to look at him as he was speaking. As I turned he was getting out of his chair and onto his knee. It was by far the most moving and beautiful moment of my life. Everything was slowing down and we both were SO HAPPY. I said yes right away or at least I thought I did but it could have just been nerves thinking. It was such a great moment. I still am having a hard time with words on this. If you’re reading this and you’re married you probably know what I’m talking about. Dave and I work. We love each other; we are in love with each other. We work at what we’ve got together. I can’t say enough about who Dave and I are together and how much I believe in our relationship and now our life together.  I was standing there in a state of surprise and shock literally shaking and very happy. We sat back down after a few minutes and Ron (Dave’s old boss) and his fiancé came walking up the path towards us. They shouted over to us and asked what’s going on.  I replied with a shout back that we JUST GOT ENGAGED.  Ron and his fiancé both said “You mean right now, like RIGHT NOW?” We said yes and they came over to us to congratulate us and to see the beautiful ring. I was shaking. Dave was shaking. We were so happy. They gave us some advice and also told us they got engaged last year in New Hampshire and that their wedding was in two weeks.

From there we walked into the hotel to make some phone calls. I called my Mom first who was very excited and welcomed Dave to the family as her newest son-in-law to be and then we called Mom and Dad Blumenthal. They were very excited for us too. In fact Dave’s mom and my mom had basically the same reaction. Call after call (big family on my side) we got to the end of the immediate contact list and asked Dave’s parents and sister not to tell Ed and Amy yet as they had planned to visit us on Sunday so we wanted to surprise them. We went for lunch and told a lot of people and then went out to see the model airplane show. I really couldn’t concentrate on this at all. I mean come on…the love of my life had just proposed to me and I was in this beautiful place and and and….let’s just say the model airplanes were not the only thing flying.

We actually took a nap after that. It was a perfect calm really. Then we headed out for dinner where we told more people and received some more congratulations. It was very nice. We had a movie date later on in the evening at the movie theater inside the hotel where we saw Ocean’s 12…actually where Dave saw Ocean’s 12 and I started snoring. (Movies do that to me)

On Friday morning we got up for some breakfast and went back to the room to pack up. We planned to stop in Longmeadow Mass to see my Aunt and nieces so we were preparing to drive for a bit too. We packed up the car and headed out with some boxed lunches. Opposite from Ireland, Dave did all of the driving. It was so nice to just let him to it. I nodded off here and there and we listened to a few episodes of Car Talk and This American Life and after a few hours in the car we finally made it to Longmeadow. Aunt Carolyn, Emily, and Jenna were there to greet us. Uncle John was away on a business trip, so he’s actually the only family member of mine that Dave hasn’t met yet. They were all so excited and happy for us. It was good to see them too. They have a new house and we got a tour and picked up some new ideas on basement remodels for the future. It was nice to show off Dave and my new ring too.  =)

After Longmeadow we headed back to Boston Logan to return the rental car and check into the hotel. We had an early flight so we wanted to relax a little and have some dinner before going to sleep. This was by far the best trip that I’ve ever been on. I can’t tell you how excited and happy and in love I am. I truly feel so fortunate to have Dave in my life.

He is incredible.

Back in Madison, Sunday morning we had breakfast with Dave L and Melissa (they’re getting married in a few weeks) and broke the news to them.  Then we were off to meet Dave’s brother Ed and his family passing through Madison on their way back from a family vacation.  While touring our house, Ed was standing in our guest room while I was talking to Amy out in the hallway when Ed put 2 and 2 together. There was a wedding magazine that we picked up at the airport sitting on the desk right next to Ed who noticed it, looked up at Dave, looked back at the magazine, tried to look at my ring finger and finally said “nice ring” and so the story came out. It was very nice that Ed, Amy, Emily, and Rachel were able to stop by on their way home, but it was even nicer that they were here to share the excitement with us.

Pictures at:

http://flickr.com/photos/poijuggler/sets/72157606823377101/