The Saga of Isabella & Esteban
Quite a number of you out there in Internet-land will find this tale surprising, given that I have only told you about my boyfriend Steve very recently. But I swear to you, it's all true!
I first met Steve when he was hired on as an Interpreter like myself at Mission San Luis, back in February of this year. We hit it off in a friendly manner right away, and found we had several overlapping areas of interest -- he'd done French & Indian War reenactment up in New Jersey where he was from, I'd been a medieval hobbyist with the SCA. We both adored music, going to the movies, traveling to interesting places, and we both thought that St. Augustine FL (the oldest continually occupied city in the US!) was a marvelous, alluring place full of history and unique style. It was our mutual friend & coworker Rob who started the three of us going out to social events, but after a bit Steve started asking me out...and he started coming to the Company of St. Vitus dance rehearsals, even though he claimed that he'd never really had a lot of interest in dancing before.
I daresay the desire to dance with me should've put me wise to what was going on, but for a goodly period of time I was not sure if Steve was just interested in doing friendly dating or if there was a romantic agenda on his mind. I polled several of my friends as to what they thought of the progress of Steve's courtship, since I truthfully could not believe someone as marvelous as he would be interested in me.
All of my insecurities about the state of things were answered, however, when Steve & I had a conversation about the state of our relationship while relaxing in his family's hot tub. Truly, there had to be a relationship if we were discussing it! He also asked me at that point if I was just looking for someone to go out with casually, or did I have serious permanent goals for the future? I admitted that I was flexible, but I did hope one day to marry, if the right man were to be found. From then on, Steve & I were inseparable. Whereas in the past it had seemed like my relationships were primarily long-distance (and took quite a long time to develop), this one moved fast and strong, following a current that astonished and delighted me. I was amazed at how well Steve & I complimented each other, the concurrent strength of our individual religious beliefs (Steve's a Catholic, I'm a Christian Scientist), and the fun, good humor of my suitor. I also find him extremely handsome, which doesn't hurt either.
We discussed a lot of things, and nearly from the beginning our conversations would stray to matters relating to a permanent relationship and marriage. After a time we stopped couching the ideas in hypothetical language, and I started to muse that it wouldn't surprise me if we were engaged before the year was out. It took me by surprise, however, when at the beginning of June Steve suggested that we start looking for engagement rings.
Our trip to the local mall here in Tallahassee to look at the offerings of chain-franchise jewelry stores did not excite Steve terribly much, however, and he noted to me that he wanted my ring to be unique, unusual, and found in a place that had meaning for us. Although we had been planning a weekend trip to St. Augustine for July, Steve suggested that we day-trip over to the city particularly to seek a ring that might be picked up when we returned a month later. So last Monday, off we went, and we found an absolutely stunning engagement ring/bridal band set that looked just perfect. Steve also tried a few wedding bands on, himself. My ring was purchased, but I assumed that I wouldn't receive it for a while.
But Steve ultimately decided that he couldn't wait, and formally proposed to me (while we were in his family's swimming pool!) on Tuesday, June 19th, offering out the ring. Delightedly, I accepted and we then proceeded to spend the rest of the evening notifying friends & family of our engaged status.
So that's the news! We've not decided on a wedding date yet, but we're batting around a few ideas. There's such a lot to be planned, and we're consulting guidebooks and friends/relatives who have gotten married in the last decade for their advice.
It's funny -- back on my profile page, I say "2006 was a great year for me...and here's hoping that 2007 will be even better!" Truly, I had no idea how much that was going to come true for me. Everything is changing so very fast, but it's exhilarating and wonderful, all the same.
Love and good wishes to all of you, my dear friends!
I first met Steve when he was hired on as an Interpreter like myself at Mission San Luis, back in February of this year. We hit it off in a friendly manner right away, and found we had several overlapping areas of interest -- he'd done French & Indian War reenactment up in New Jersey where he was from, I'd been a medieval hobbyist with the SCA. We both adored music, going to the movies, traveling to interesting places, and we both thought that St. Augustine FL (the oldest continually occupied city in the US!) was a marvelous, alluring place full of history and unique style. It was our mutual friend & coworker Rob who started the three of us going out to social events, but after a bit Steve started asking me out...and he started coming to the Company of St. Vitus dance rehearsals, even though he claimed that he'd never really had a lot of interest in dancing before.
I daresay the desire to dance with me should've put me wise to what was going on, but for a goodly period of time I was not sure if Steve was just interested in doing friendly dating or if there was a romantic agenda on his mind. I polled several of my friends as to what they thought of the progress of Steve's courtship, since I truthfully could not believe someone as marvelous as he would be interested in me.
All of my insecurities about the state of things were answered, however, when Steve & I had a conversation about the state of our relationship while relaxing in his family's hot tub. Truly, there had to be a relationship if we were discussing it! He also asked me at that point if I was just looking for someone to go out with casually, or did I have serious permanent goals for the future? I admitted that I was flexible, but I did hope one day to marry, if the right man were to be found. From then on, Steve & I were inseparable. Whereas in the past it had seemed like my relationships were primarily long-distance (and took quite a long time to develop), this one moved fast and strong, following a current that astonished and delighted me. I was amazed at how well Steve & I complimented each other, the concurrent strength of our individual religious beliefs (Steve's a Catholic, I'm a Christian Scientist), and the fun, good humor of my suitor. I also find him extremely handsome, which doesn't hurt either.
We discussed a lot of things, and nearly from the beginning our conversations would stray to matters relating to a permanent relationship and marriage. After a time we stopped couching the ideas in hypothetical language, and I started to muse that it wouldn't surprise me if we were engaged before the year was out. It took me by surprise, however, when at the beginning of June Steve suggested that we start looking for engagement rings.
Our trip to the local mall here in Tallahassee to look at the offerings of chain-franchise jewelry stores did not excite Steve terribly much, however, and he noted to me that he wanted my ring to be unique, unusual, and found in a place that had meaning for us. Although we had been planning a weekend trip to St. Augustine for July, Steve suggested that we day-trip over to the city particularly to seek a ring that might be picked up when we returned a month later. So last Monday, off we went, and we found an absolutely stunning engagement ring/bridal band set that looked just perfect. Steve also tried a few wedding bands on, himself. My ring was purchased, but I assumed that I wouldn't receive it for a while.
But Steve ultimately decided that he couldn't wait, and formally proposed to me (while we were in his family's swimming pool!) on Tuesday, June 19th, offering out the ring. Delightedly, I accepted and we then proceeded to spend the rest of the evening notifying friends & family of our engaged status.
So that's the news! We've not decided on a wedding date yet, but we're batting around a few ideas. There's such a lot to be planned, and we're consulting guidebooks and friends/relatives who have gotten married in the last decade for their advice.
It's funny -- back on my profile page, I say "2006 was a great year for me...and here's hoping that 2007 will be even better!" Truly, I had no idea how much that was going to come true for me. Everything is changing so very fast, but it's exhilarating and wonderful, all the same.
Love and good wishes to all of you, my dear friends!