Continued from previous post…
My good friend from college, and bridesmaid, Kaycee, game me the alias“Nancy Drew” due to my many ditzy moments throughout our college years. I am not a stupid person, but I easily get distracted in my thoughts, so sometimes I don’t catch on to things quickly. The 5 minute-delayed “Aha!” moments earned me the nickname I so love. My engagement was a Nancy Drew moment for me.
We got dressed up for a night out at Second City for some improv comedy. As we were running a little behind schedule (no surprise) we didn’t have time to eat until after the show. While at dinner at 9:00 p.m., Kyle and my coworker Jill were a little more than usually giddy. Here is how the next hour went:
My internal thoughts: “Hey, Jill and Kyle sure are drunk. It is getting to be a little ridiculous. They can’t even choose what to eat without laughing.”
Kyle: “Hey Jill, wouldn’t you like to order the Shepherd’s Pie” [pointing at the item on menu with my engagement ring on his finger teasingly].
My internal thoughts: “Why does Kyle keep opening the menu up over and over?”
Jill and Kyle: “We HAVE to go try Dugan’s Irish pub tonight because it is our last night in the city.”
Me: “Oh, but I am so very tired and do not need any more to eat or drink.”
Fast forward an hour to the little Irish pub outside our hotel.
Kyle: “I’ll go order drinks, you girls pick a table.”
Jill: “Let’s sit at this table that opens up onto the street.”
My internal thoughts: “So we can stare at Walgreens instead of the crowd? I am only doing this because it is tradition, you know, Kyle!” Side note: Kyle and I find Irish pubs in all cities to talk with the locals and enjoy our favorite beverages.
I go to the bathroom, Kyle is still at bar. I come back and a random man is sitting at our table and there are still no drinks.
Me: “It is time to go, this bar is way too slow at serving the 12 people that are here.”
Kyle: “I know, seriously, they are slow, but I ordered drinks I promise!”
My internal thoughts: “Maybe Kyle is so gone that he thought he ordered drinks, or the bartender took the order but won’t serve my crazy boyfriend and coworker!”
[At this moment the man sitting at our table is brusquely removed by the bartender and taken down the street a ways].
My internal thoughts: “I wonder how many times this drunk man has harassed the patrons to the point of being removed from one’s table.”
[The other bartender brings over three glasses of champagne and the bottle. It is Cooks.]
Me: “What the hell is this!? This isn’t cider or Guinness!!”
Kyle: “They were out of Guinness.”
My internal thoughts: “What kind of freaking Irish bar is this and why in the world is my boyfriend ordering a bottle of champagne when he knows I didn’t even want another drink. Oh well, I’ll toast to our last night in Chicago!”
Jill: [Looking at me strangely] “Cheers to Chicago and Ken (our principal)!”
Kyle: [Strangely NOT looking at me] “Giggle.”
The rest of the bar: [Staring at me as I take sips of the champagne and toast my friends].
My internal thoughts: “What the hell is going on here?! Why is everyone giggling and looking at me?! This whole town is f-d up right now, aren’t they!?”
Music changes in the background from hard core rap and hip hop to, what the heck is this, Barry Manilow?! I notice Jill has my camera and is taking photos. Not odd to me, because I am always taking photos, so I smile for the camera as I toast!
Kyle: “Ooh! Read what is written on the glass!”
My internal thoughts: [Reading the etched glass]” How sweet, a free gift from the alcohol distributor.”
Me: “Totts. It isn’t even the same brand as the other cheap champagne we are drinking.”
INSERT “AHA” MOMENT HERE
Me: “What is that?!” [seeing ring on bottom of glass, wondering how I missed it up until this point, laughing slightly with embarrassment].
Kyle: “I don’t know, but if you want it you have to finish your glass first.”
Me: “How am I supposed to chug Cooks?!”
Kyle: “You better if you want me to propose.”
I try to use my finger to get it out at this point, but as we know champagne glasses are tall. I am laughing, crying, champagne is coming out of my nose, and I am trying to ignore the patrons’ stares. Then, the chugging begins.
Kyle: “We’ve been a lot of places and we’ve been in a lot of places. Irish pubs are one of the places we always feel comfortable in wherever we happen to be. I wanted to propose someplace that had special meaning to the both of us.”
Me: “And you chose DUGAN’S?!”
Kyle: “Will you be the one?” [Sliding ring on my finger]
I said no. :)
End note: The actual speech Kyle gave was much more involved. If you’d like to see it, he has a copy of it on his Droid. Yes, he had it written out and pre-approved. And it was 100% Kyle style.
