What a Trip!

 I'm guessing it's natural to feel a little burned-out after nearly 4 weeks on a road-trip around the country.  As my boyfriend, Rob, and I are nearing that mark, it's kind of starting to feel like we've been on the road for months, not weeks (in a good way, I think).  I knew setting out that this trip would be full of adventure, new experiences, and surprises (both welcome and some maybe not-so-welcome).  Well, I certainly got the surprise of the whole trip just about 2 weeks ago — Rob proposed!  Before we left, a number of my friends hinted that such a grand trip would be just the perfect time for Mr. Rob to pop that big 'ol question.  I thought, well maybe, but no.  I really thought it would be another couple of years.  

To say it was a surprise would be a serious understatement.  I wasn't expecting it at all, and certainly not on the day it happened.  We had been up in Glacier National Park for a few days, in northern Montana.  The park is separated into two halves, the half in Montana and the other half across the border in Alberta, Canada (where it's called Waterton National Park).  It was beautiful country up there, but cold.  I'm one of those who just doesn't think I should be wearing 4 layers in August.  We were camping on the Montana side and doing some hikes and enjoying visiting the historic lodges throughout the park.  On our second day there, which happened to fall on our third anniversary, we'd talked about crossing into Canada to see the park sights there and perhaps have dinner in honor of our special day.  Nothing special, though, as we'd been hiking and were a mess, etc. etc.  Rob had made a big point of stressing that he hadn't gotten me anything, which by no means bothered me, as my gift to him was just a silly "Coke" t-shirt (Coke being his new Achilles heel).  After all, the grandness (and expenses) of this trip are kind of our presents to ourselves.

When we got into the Canada side of the park, we drove to the Prince of Wales Hotel, a beautiful, historic inn on a cliff overlooking a stunning lakeshore.  We got out to walk around and check out the restaurant in the hotel, but before we made it in, Rob tossed me a clumpy shopping bag.  "Here's your anniversary present!"  I caught it and just knew, even though I didn't believe it until I saw it.  I dug through the bag and out came the blue Tiffany box.  Now, for Christmases past, Rob has gotten me a few pairs of earrings from Tiffany's, so though I still didn't exactly believe it, the shape of the box couldn't be denied.  I was shaking when I finally opened the ring box.  He whispered in my ear, "Kitty, will you marry me?"  And all I could do was whisper back, "Yeah."  I cried, but not crazily (much to Rob's relief!).  We then went in to the hotel — both total messes in hiking clothes and not having showered in a few days — to enjoy a wonderful dinner with a view of the windsurfers on the lake.

Now, nearly two weeks later, I still feel kind of stunned by it all.  I find myself staring at the gorgeous ring in disbelief.  But that's kind of similar to how Rob and I came together in the first place.  We met on a weekend trip to Montreal with mutual friends three years ago.  I wasn't looking for anything serious, but out of nowhere it seemed, this incredible guy walked into my life.  Three years later, he caught me by surprise again.  I try to avoid cliches as much as I can in my own writing, but I have to admit it when certain ones come true — good things always come to you when you're not looking.

— Catherine :)

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