How do you surprise some who knows something is coming? That was my eternal struggle as I tried to come up with a proposal idea. It was an open secret that I was planning to propose, I think everyone had a general idea the time was near. I knew two facts, I didn't have long and I couldn't act any different. So I came up with a plan.

As plans go it was pretty simple, I always wanted to do the proposal at Curtis Arboretum because it is OUR park (and yes I know other people have claims to the park). The trouble was if I made any plans to go to Curtis it would immediately raise alarms. So in order to have a proposal that was both romantic and a complete surprise there was only one solution: Razinn would have to plan it herself.

To set the scene it is late October and the weather is beautiful, the last week of warm weather before fall completely took over. Perfect picnic weather except I couldn't suggest that myself. I had to create the conditions Razinn would need to suggest the "idea", so I orderd a picnic basket as pictued above. It is a very nice picnic basket, made from wicker and including everything you would need for a picnic, minus the food of course, including plates, utensils, glasses, even a picknic blanket! Such a good basket set that I knew (at least really hoped) that upon seeing the baskt she would immediately start planning a picnic for that weekend...and that's exactly what happened.

All week I primed Razinn that something was being delivered. I never told her what I was expecting and she never asked but I could tell that she was interested. When the box came that Friday night  I casually said that she should open it while trying to look disinterested (trust me I'm screaming on the inside). 

 I knew....but I didn't know.

To Jamal's point, I knew a proposal was coming, but I didn't know when or how so I decided to be patient.

It's the last week in October and Jamal had been telling me all week he was expecting a delivery, but since we regularly receive computer parts or tools in the mail, I didn't press for details.  So when this beautiful picnic basket arrived I was elated! It was the last warm weekend we could expect for a while and I knew we had to hit OUR park once more before the late fall chill set in.

Right away we sprung into action to have a lovely outing with our new basket.  The picnic basket was so nice I knew we couldn't throw our usual sandwich and chips in there, this had to be special!  Only Whole Foods would do for some health lunch options and treats, and since Whole Foods is so close to the Wine&Spirits shop a small bottle of wine also had to be included.

In hindsight, I should have known that something was going on.  Jamal was very agreeable (unusually so) to all of my suggestions.  Whole Foods, sure! Wine, of course! I should have known.