andy had been thinking about it for a long time — as in, the idea first popped into his head during the month they started dating. not that he was going to rush such a decision, but he’d been fully invested from the start and knew he was madly in love with this amazing woman. as the hours, days, weeks, and months accumulated, he couldn’t bear the thought of not spending the rest of his days with her. not to deride the terminology, but simply calling her his girlfriend always seemed flimsy compared to what he actually felt for her.

he’d secretly discussed marriage with friends. one friend, who incidentally had already been divorced, offered only positive advice, and reassured him that full emotional investment — even when it means feeling terribly upset when your partner is down — is something that should never be lost or lessened. another friend asked out of the blue whether he’d probably getting married, and he replied without hesitation that he’d likely propose by his 25th birthday. this turned out to be correct. but how, when, and with what? such answers were not well defined when the actual moment came about, but no matter. what matters is she said yes. and without hesitation.

on may 25, 2009 at approximately 9pm, andy asked gena to marry him.  she agreed, and cried.  and so it begins.