boy+girl=love!
(or the adventures, misadventures and fun fiascoes of a beautiful proposal...)
How did Mike pop the question, you may ask? Well, for that tale, you may need another cup of tea!
At the beginning of a very lovely Spring last year, Phoebe and Mike decided to go out of town to their favorite place in all of California, Manka's Inverness Lodge, for a quick romantic holiday. So, they made reservations and hit the road, making their way over the Golden Gate to a tiny, but well appointed, German hunting cabin where a cozy down bed and a toasty fire in an ocean-rock fireplace awaited them. On their way, they stopped to visit Michael's father and step-mother in Petaluma. Little did Phoebe know, Michael was putting his big plans for their weekend into action...
They reached Manka's, wrapped in the lush greenery of Inverness, and nestled right in. To Phoebe, the weekend seemed like any other very special getaway weekend, filled with hikes, and love, too many s'mores, and lots of laughter.
The day before they were set to leave, Mike suggested going on a picnic. So, they packed up the car and set out for Mike's destination: Heart's Desire Beach. But when they got there, Heart's Desire was CLOSED!!! Phoebe jested that Mike's heart's desire was denied, not knowing what his heart had in store for their afternoon.
They wandered for some time looking for the perfect spot to picnic. First, they drove to the nearest beach, but it was TOO windy. Then, they thought they'd just eat in the parking lot, but it was TOO busy. But then, they stumbled upon the quaintest historic little farm overlooking golden bluffs and dappled ocean (it was nearing sunset at this point,) and it was JUST RIGHT!
So, Mike pulled out the picnic and Phoebe pulled out the camera, thinking this was just another lovely afternoon to document. Then, quite suddenly, Mike got on one knee and asked Phoebe to spend the rest of her life with him, just like that. And Phoebe said a very ecstatic yes! He gave her his grandfather's ring, collected from his father on the journey to Manka's, and they feasted on their delicious picnic while the lazy sun dipped low in the sky, very happy thinking that this was the beginning of building something beautiful together.