Some people would say that we met online. But where we actually met is at a place called the Sit and Spin in Seattle that no longer exists. It’s very appropriate considering that the Sit and Spin was a coffee shop/bar/Laundromat and we’re different/similar/in love.

Our first date starts with me walking in and asking why he hadn’t gotten a beer yet. Eric always said that he knew there was something special about me on that very first date. I knew when we argued about who was going to pick up the check that we he was sweet and giving.

And that was our first date.

Our second date, the one where we knew, I think, was a ferry ride out to Port Townsend. I’d only been in Seattle for about 3 months and here I was taking a ferry ride out to a remote place I hadn’t even heard of with a stranger. But I trusted him, so I went, despite my room mate, Elise’s “He might be an axe murder,” and “You should make sure to check his trunk for rope.” As always a perfect example of the skeptic versus the optimist. She was right though. Good thing he wasn’t.

I uttered the famous words that doomed me that second date: “I’m not looking for a relationship.”

So the fates were sure to make sure that we fell in love, bought a house together and got married, just to spite me.

It hit me that I loved him as I was driving home from the gym. All of a sudden, I’m in my 1989 Toyota Celica, bopping along to The Bangles and *POW*. I love him. I tell him when I get home and he says that he loves me too. Happy ending.

And that’s how we fell in love.

So the day of our housewarming party arrives. We had just bought our home in October, and it was nearing Christmas. Perfect time for a party, why not make it a housewarming party. We are cleaning frantically that day. Making sure every detail is attended to so we can give tours without feeling sheepish. I was in my pajamas, hair up. The doorbell rings, Eric walks downstairs. I ask who it is, he said the neighbor.

He has a certain frantic look about him, I dismiss it, thinking he just had to run up two flights of stairs. He stands in front of the door of our bedroom as I'm trying to get in, grabs our pug Paco and sits me on the bed.

Paco jumps off of the bed.

Eric puts him back on.

Paco has a tiny pink silk jewelry bag attached to his collar.

It was my beautiful engagement ring. And ladies, it is beautiful. He got on one knee, asked me to marry him and my famous, harried, tearful response is: "Are you sure?!"

Of course he says he's sure. I say yes. And we enjoy the girls squeeling and men shaking hands with Eric throughout our housewarming party.

And that's how we got engaged.