But first I was planning a trip back home for Thanksgiving. I would meet up with John and we would drive to my Dad’s new house in Nevada for the holiday. I had never been to this house before and I was under the impression John hadn’t either. As we drove through the mountains to Gardnerville, we enjoyed the uninterrupted time together. We came into town and got a little lost going through my Dad’s neighborhood. John kept asking if each turn was the right way. I told him I didn’t know; I had never been here either. My Dad and Step-Mom had recently moved to this area so it was all new to me.
Finally we arrived and had a nice visit with my family. I had a sneaking suspicion that John might propose to me during this trip. I was hopeful anyway.
The next morning John and I got up and went for a walk on the backside of my Dad’s neighborhood. We climbed to the top of a hill and enjoyed the beautiful view of the mountains that make up Lake Tahoe. I thought, “Is this it? Is this where he’ll pop the question?” It was beautiful, we were alone and it would be memorable. But we commented on the view, chit-chatted, shared a quick kiss and then down the hill we went.
Later that day my Dad and Sharon wanted to take us to a near-by town called Virginia City. It’s an old-timey little western town. They have wooden-slatted sidewalks, quaint shops, an old casino and several western style “watering holes.” We walked around sight seeing for quite a while and then wondered into the casino. We were playing the slots when Sharon pulled me aside. “I want to get your Dad a present from the leather store right down the street. Keep him busy in here until I get back.” I agreed. She came back shortly and we wondered further down the street in and out of shops. My Dad talked me into buying a cowboy hat, by which to remember this trip.
Just outside “Forever Christmas” (one of those year-round Christmas shops) Sharon announced she wanted to look for an ornament for her daughter. She walked in first, I followed, Dad and John were behind me. I walked through the door and the woman behind the counter shouted at me, “Oh, yay! You are the 1000th customer of the month and you win a free present!” She showed me a tick-marked sheet of paper where she had been keeping count.
Surprised, I replied, “Oh great. I was losing at the casino so I’m happy to win something finally.”
“Let me go in the back and get it.” She said as she scurried off.
She came back with a red fabric ornament box and handed it to me. I opened it and inside was a champagne glass shaped ornament that said “Melissa & John 2004.” At that moment the shock hit me and I realized something was up. There was shimmering confetti inside and in that was the ring. I looked up to find John in front of me, on one knee. My head was spinning. My Step-Mom, the store clerk and other random customers were snapping photos of us. I was so surprised by how this was all going down that I honestly don’t remember exactly what John said to me. All I know is that he said he loved me and asked me to be his wife. I think I just kept saying something like, “Oh my god! I can’t believe this! I’m so happy!” etc. as I ripped off the ring we bought together in Mexico. The one that had been saving the place for this beautiful ring that I hoped was coming. He asked, “So does that mean yes?”
“Yes, yes, yes!!” I was flabbergasted and extremely excited to be taking this step with him. As I said, I had a suspicion that he might be proposing on this holiday weekend but how, and where it happened, completely caught me off guard; which is exactly how I wanted it.
After we all came down from the high, we walked across the street to the local Saloon for a celebratory drink. The bartender poured us each a glass of champagne and we told her the story. A woman sitting at the end of the bar said, “I don’t mean to eves drop but I’m a writer for the local Virginia City newspaper. I love your story and was wondering if I could put it in the paper?” We thought that would be great. She got our names and all the details. We gave her our address and a few weeks later she sent us a copy of the article. Now, still today when my parents go to Virginia City the store clerk and the bartender ask about us. They are thrilled to know we are still happy and have a wonderful little boy.
Turned out, when Sharon asked me to “keep my Dad busy” they were actually trying to keep ME busy while she ran down and dropped off the ring. Also, John later told me he took a trip to see my Dad and Sharon about a month or so before. He had been to the house and knew exactly where he was going when he pretended to be lost in the neighborhood. They had me fooled! John stayed at their house that night and asked my Father’s blessing for the proposal. Ahhh! And then that’s when all the plotting and scheming started! Sharon suggested Virginia City and John’s first thought was while panning for gold I would come across the ring. Sharon was afraid it might get lost in the shuffle and talked him out of that idea. Good job Sharon. And so the Christmas store idea was born and boy, an engagement ring was the last thing I thought I would get in “Forever Christmas.”
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