People in my life are getting engaged left and right these days, which reminds me of a story.
Picture it: Guelph, winter of '97. I am working my mad Barista skills at the Second Cup in Stone Road Mall, ever-fearful of my boss's watchful gaze. His motto: "If there's time to lean, there's time to clean." I have just readjusted some miniature cherry pies and oversized biscotti in the display case when a young-ish couple approaches the counter.
Me: Hi there! What can I get for you today?
Him: Two Columbians please.
Me: For here?
Him: Yes.
Me: And would you like any pastries with that? (I have to say this or TimeToLeanTimeToClean gets huffy.)
Him: Yes! We would! Two butter tarts, please. It's a special day.
I turn around to get two plates and when I look back at the counter he has presented his womanfriend with a ring and he says,
Him: Will you marry me?
Her: Wha...? Are you serious?
Me: Exactly. Is he serious? Really? Here? In line at the Second Cup? Wow. Ha. I feel honoured to be here for this. That'll be $5.45, please.
(In retrospect, I see that I might've been nice and bought their coffee and pastries for them, but I was in almost as much shock as the dude's girlfriend was.)
He pays and they sit themselves down at a table and talk quietly.
...And I'll never know what ended up happening. I got busy after that so I couldn't eavesdrop on their conversation. The tragedy! Did she finally say yes? Was she kind of expecting it or was it a total shock? Did she wonder what the eff was up with her boyfriend that he would propose marriage to her in line for coffee at the Stone Road Mall???
Yes, I know, a dramatic proposal does not a happy marriage make. But at least go to a park. Y'know? I mean, come on. The mall? Really?
I like to think that she was expecting the proposal and had asked him to do it when she least suspected it was coming, just to make the moment exciting. And, well, if that's the case then he TOTALLY SUCCEEDED. Maybe at dinner parties they regale their friends with the tale of the Second Cup proposal and she holds his hand and gazes at him lovingly as she remembers how her heart jumped when he pulled out the ring.
Or maybe she dropped him like a used Kleenex. Either way, it's a pretty good story.
Warm Spring Salad
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I’m celebrating spring with this warm spring salad featuring asparagus,
leek, peas, strawberries, and parsley all tossed in a simple lemon olive
oil dres...
6 comments:
awesome story...and you are really hot.
will you marry me?
and can you pick me up a pound of Verona Decaf?
Goodness, this is so sudden. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to decline. Now if you'd said Hawaiian Kona...
Hm...
It occurs to me that this might be a great way to score some free stuff. I mean you yourself said you probably should have paid for their stuff...
I think maybe I'll walk around with a glass ring in my pocket and spring into action whenever the cheque rolls around...
Whaddaya think?
A brilliant idea. But you should only do that with someone you never intend to propose to for real, otherwise you may find yourself in a "boy who cried wolf" situation.
My mate Greg had his first date in the Second Cup by the university and they went there on their wedding day for pictures but the proposal happened elsewhere. I personally cannot imagine marrying someone who proposed to me in a mall, especially Stone Road Mall. But a lot of people like malls and I don't. But I liked it when you were a barista because once when I was uber-broke and worried about being unable to afford anything unexpected like a speeding ticket, you told me if I got a speeding ticket you would pay for it because you had a job and I stopped worrying. Wait, I think the best part of that was what an awesome friend you are, not that you were a barista.
Aw, that's cute that Greg and his wife took pictures at the Second Cup. And anyway, that one is way nicer than the one in the mall was.
I still have a job and I will still pay for any speeding tickets you get...but I wouldn't recommend driving in Bristol. They drive on the wrong side of the road there.
xo
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