The beginning

And so it wAs. HAgAn Stone PArk chAnging destinies

And Altering eternities.

I called my cousin and asked to borrow her BMW convertible. She allowed on the pretense that I would be proposing to my, then, girlfriend.

I go to pick up this fine And friendly lady where we proceed to be cute and drive looking fAncy And listening to good ole' MichAel Buble. All the while cArrying on a conversAtion of which I wAs only hAlf AwAre of, seeing As I wAs in the know of whAt wAs going to be hAppening soon.

Following the 20 minute convertible ride with

a beAutiful giggling girl we drove Around HAgAn Stone park. We sAw this little cute chApel that could only fit 10 people inside and ended my purposed wAndering At the perfect locAtion. Sitting on A bench At the waters edge we spoke for A few minutes. I finAlly sAid, and I quote, "CAn I Ask you A rAndom question?" to which she responded with A, "yeAh." I then inquired As to her feeling towards my Ability to write poetry.

She responded, "I think you're good." To plAy it cool I prodded with down plAy and humble bAnter consisting of questions whether she thought I was good becAuse I was her boyfriend, or if I wAs Actually good. I then informed her that I hAd written her Another poem, but it was in the cAr. She Asked me to get it but to throw her off of my intended trAil of Action I stAyed suAve And told her I would get it for her lAter. She insisted I give it to her so I rAn to the cAr to get it.

--- SidebAr!----- I hAd written this poem About A little green box hol

ding A rounded object. It went on to tAlk About how this simple little shApe could chAnge everything. Both the poem and the box are in the picture titled Figure 1.1.-------

Figure 1.1

And As I wAlked back down to the lAkeside bench my heArt neArly killed me beAting so fAst And I sought for An excuse As to why I would be so sweAty And nervous (not thAt thAt is Anything new or out of the ordinAry for me). I sAt down and gAve the poem to her.

I wish I could show you the reaction she gAve As she reAd. It spAnned the gAmut of, "this is cute," to "wAit is this....?", ending with "oh... oh, this is it."

Then I knelt And Asked Alyssa DreAnne LAfferty to mArry me. She said yes And so begAn our eternity. :)

-ZJC