After weeks of planning for our parents to meet for the first time, I was nervous about how the day was going to turn out due to the rain changing the original plans. Luckily, I planned a rainy day alternative, and July 29, 2017, Sylvester Jr. (Sly) and I arrive at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Upon arrival, I was nervous as this was the first time our families were coming together.  Sylvester reassured me that I had nothing to be nervous about, not knowing his plan for the day. We walked through the museum looking at the art, mingling and being the thinker that I am I judging how well I thought everything was going.  As we continued through the museum our sisters began discussing the African American Art section of the museum and wanting to get to that section, I later learned their reason.

As we entered the African American Art section I heard someone say “Finally we found it”. As we entered this section of the museum, I was confident that everything was going well, and I began thoroughly looking at the exhibit, enjoying the information I was reading. As I was reading a description of a piece Sylvester Jr. asked me if I remembered a poem he wrote some time prior, that he would not share with me in a previous conversation.  Interested in what I was reading I stated “Yeah I remember” and continued reading. He then asked if he could read the poem to me and I then responded “Right now, really…” and as I saw him pulling it up on his phone, I then said, “Just hand me your phone I can read it to myself”. Laughing at my response he expressed that he would prefer if he read it to me, noticing a seriousness in his voice I said okay, and he began to read. 

As he read I was confused, as the poem started off with food pairings that went well together, and not knowing where he was going with the poem I continued to listen. As he read, he began using words such as  “Husband and Wife” and began to describe us, I then realized this poem was not just a poem but didn't want to jump to conclusions. When he said “Like your finger and this ring” and presented the ring, all the emotion I felt that this moment would bring, came rushing in, and the room went silent. When Sylvester Jr. stated “Will you marry me?” all the sound in the room hit me all at once and I noticed our families had formed a circle around us with cameras, recording and taking pictures.  Through the tears of joy and happiness, I remembered I still needed to respond to his question and I said YES!  An in that moment I learned that the day was much bigger than what I had planned.

So before we even got together I knew I was gonna marry Kayla. I wrote a letter to my mother about a year before I proposed telling her how I was going to do so. At the beginning of 2017 I began looking for the perfect ring A few months later I found it and started paying for it. At the beginning of the year, I also started setting up the whole plan right under her nose. I mentioned to her that our parents should meet and we slowly put those plans together. She had no idea she was planning out her own engagement. I knew her last thought would be me proposing because she'd be so focusing on everything going well with our parents lol. Well time goes on and I pay off the ring and then I was prepared to ask her parents for her hand in marriage. With the help of her sister, Kara, I was able to set up a video call with her parents. With excitement, they approved. I told them my plans of when and where and now it's the waiting game.

I didn't know what to say but I was told I was good with writing down my words so for a week or two I worked on a poem. I worked on it and adjusted it until the night before. The next morning it was raining so we went to our back up meeting spot at a museum. She was nervous about our parent's meeting but with confidence, I told her there's nothing to worry about, it's going to go great. She had no idea how nervous I was with the ring in my back pocket.

I found the exact spot I wanted to do it I just had to wait and calm my nerves as we looked at art. It was hard to concentrate on art (which I love) knowing what I was about to do. We finally got to the spot. I told her I wanted to read her the poem I was working on before. After convincing her that she couldn't just read it herself and I had to read it to her I nervously started the poem shaking all over. I got down on one knee, finished my poem and asked her and she said Yes!  

Tears flowed and pictures were taken. My nerves were finally gone and EVERYONE was hungry lol

....And that's all I gotta say about that