September 11th Engagement

First a little background...

Mike and I met in 9th grade. He asked me out on May 19, 1998. It has been 3 and a half years now and I'm still as much in love with him as the day he asked me out.

May 5, 2001...The biggest day so far in our lives. It was senior prom and we were excited! We had been planning for months for this day! We wanted to make a scene at school and so we decided to be...well...different. I went as a Southern Belle (yes, hoop skirt and everything) and Mike went as a Southern Gentleman. We got a lot of compliments and we totally loved looking different than everybody else. I could tell the night was going to be magical from the beginning.

The night went on and it came time for the Seniors to cross the Senior Bridge (It's a school tradition) Mike and I had planned to walk across and kiss on the bridge with the school watching. Little to my knowledge, Michael had other plans! But thanks to the two left feet that God has graced me with, I tripped over my dress, fell on my face, and ripped my dress. Needless to say, Mike got distracted and missed his chance because another Senior couple was coming up behind us and we had to get off of the bridge.

Well, I could tell Mike was upset about something but I didn't know what. We went into the cafeteria for some punch and we ran into a group of friends. We all started chatting and Mike said "Hang on, I'll be right back." I figured that he was going into the restroom or something. Soon after one of my friends came running out of the gym and said "You've got to come see this!" And the crowd of friends I was with all started pushing me into the gym. I kept saying "I have to wait for Mike!" They said "No, you've really got to see this!" I figured it was just a dumb fight but boy did I get a shock when I walked into the gym.

All of the lights were off and in the middle of a spotlight holding a microphone was my Michael. My jaw just dropped! I really wasn't sure what he was up too. I was standing there dumb founded with my shoes in one hand and my camera in the other. All I know after that is someone took my shoes and my camera and pushed me from behind because I couldn't even move and the next thing I knew I was standing in the spotlight with Mike.

The ENTIRE school was standing around us. (Mind you, we do not come from a small school!) He gave a little speech (which sadly I don't remember because I was in shock!) and he got down on his knees and proposed. Of course I said "Yes" (or I guess that you would not be reading my story right now!)and the whole school clapped and cheered. Then the DJ played the prom theme song as Mike and I danced in the spotlight as our friends and schoolmates danced around us.

It truly was a magical night!

Jamie