The Best Surprise EVER!

My arm is black and blue from all the pinching it has received over the last seven days. I tell you, it is mind-boggling how much life can change in a week.

I guess I should begin at the beginning.

New Year’s Eve 2014 dawned just like my last several New Year’s Eves. I got up and went to work. Mercifully, the bosses let us go an hour early. Recognizing a golden opportunity, I drove home and promptly took a nap – Robin Hood and I had plans to go to a friend’s house for a New Year’s Eve party, and I wanted to actually make it to midnight. It’s embarrassing when everyone else around you is raising their glasses when the Times Square ball drops and you’re on the couch, snoring.

I woke up from my nap refreshed, and went out for the obligatory last-day-of-2014 run. I did some reflecting on the last year, and thought about everything that had happened in both my running and non-running life. I enjoyed the fresh air. It was a good run.

Our friend’s party didn’t start until 8, so Robin Hood and I relaxed, ordered pizza, and watched TV. When it was time to get ready, I aimed myself at the cute-but-casual outfit I had planned, but the boyfriend put on a sad face when he found out I wasn’t dressing up. Off went the warm jeans. On went the skirt (a wintertime skirt, but still a skirt, on a bone-chillingly-cold night).

Okay, in hindsight, dressing up was a good idea. But there was definitely some nose-wrinkling in the moment.

We went over to the party, where we mingled, enjoyed delicious snacks, and played Cards Against Humanity. I had never played it before, and I LOVED IT. Have you ever played it? It’s like Apples to Apples, only much more…uh…adult. I don’t recommend playing it when small children are present. We played countless rounds, hilarity ensued, and I made a mental note to buy it for myself as soon as possible.

Time flew. Before I knew it, it was time to forget about the game and focus on the TV. Everyone at the party – between 10 and 20 people, I think – gathered in the living room for the big countdown. As the Times Square ball slid down, we all shouted “10! 9!” and so forth.

When we got to zero, the room fell silent. The TV went mute. I hesitated for a second, then thought, well someone has to be loud, and I shouted “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!” Everyone else stayed silent. I was confused and slightly exasperated. Um, hello? It’s the new year? 2015? What’s wrong with you people?!

Then – and I can’t remember if it was of my own volition, or if someone discreetly indicated that I should – I turned to my left.

Then I saw Robin Hood getting down on one knee.

Then he pulled out a little black box.

Then he asked me to marry him.

After that, it’s kind of a blur. According to the video recorded by one of our friends (they were all in on it), I shrieked “YES!!!” and there was much hugging, smooching, champagne spilling, and cheering from the sidelines.

It’s still a blur. The happiest blur of my life.