Obviously it was Halloween.
We’d planned nothing out of the ordinary. My girlfriend and I had been invited to two Halloween parties; one downtown the other out in the suburbs. She’d borrowed a set of costumes for us from her aunt and I’d been informed we’d be attending those parties as Raggedy Ann and Andy.
The first party was a fun neighborhood party made up of mostly her friends from her university along with her older siblings. Our planning called for us to leave there early in order for us to be able to drive across town to our second party. We’d agreed to put in an appearance at that second one made up of friends and neighbors from where I’d spent my later high school years, called home while on college breaks, and lived at the time.
The first party was a blast and we left in good spirits in my beloved Buick Riviera Swallowtail.
My Riv…
Our conversation was relaxed chatty, and mundane. In spite of a coating of snow on the roads, I was driving on autopilot since I’d made that drive from city to suburb hundreds of times. It was essentially my daily home-from-work commute as well as my path on those evenings and weekends when I’d go to spend time with my current passenger. Plus, once out of the city it was an easy, straight shot on a single route.
Well into our drive, in passing and with a smile and light laugh, Raggedy Ann commented “Andy, I think we’re doing really well as a party team.” Nodding in response I added “you know, I think you’d be an amazing Mother to our children.”
The smile on her face melted into a blank. Cocking her head slightly and after a few moments of me only hearing the hissing of our tires in the snow, she asked “Scott, I’m not sure, but are you asking me to marry you?”
Slightly surprised at myself, I took my foot off the gas and let the car slowly glide. I looked at her more fully and said “I guess that was a pretty dumb way to ask, but yes. Would you marry me?”
Almost instantaneously her smile, larger than ever, return as she answered “yes”.
And just like that we were engaged!
We began discussing her need to finish college, timing, families, wedding thoughts, and or course, future children.
At some point I realized we’d been so lost in the moment I’d driven us far beyond our destination.
We missed that second party, but stopped in to tell my folks of our engagement.
Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy forever after…
P.S. Turned out to be the first of many, many times we’d dress alike.