Troy felt it was time to take his relationship with Tracy to the next level. Their relationship began 13 years ago. There were moments of intense love mixed with times of separation. Troy knew in his heart Tracy was his person. Perched on the end of the kayak he sat staring at the water, he gathered his thoughts. Today would be the day he proposed to Tracy. The ring nestled in his pocket urged him forward.
Troy found the perfect spot on the beach. The sun was slowly making its descent painting the horizon a beautiful Fushia. He was practicing his proposal in his mind when Tracy slid in beside him. She nuzzled into him gazing at the skyline too. They turn to face each other. Troy opened his mouth. Tracy lips were already moving. "Damn! Dinner did not agree with me. I have to go poop". And there went the moment. Tracy dashed back to the house. Troy continued to stare at the darkening horizon.
he touched the square box in his pocket. "That didn't go as planned." Troy continued to look for the perfect moment. It seemed extremely elusive. Eventually, he decided to wait until they traveled to Germany. What better place for a proposal than a holiday away. He carefully tucked the ring box in his backpack knowing he would find that perfect moment in Germany.
Weeks later Troy and Tracy joined their travel companions Tegan and Tiffany to discuss final plans for Germany. Tracy and Tiffany had been best friends and travel companions forever. They felt the powers that be smiled on them when the boys found they enjoyed each other's company too. The coincidental alliteration of their names sealed the deal. The girls went off to the ladies room together leaving the boys alone at the table.
Troy looked at Tegan, "Can you keep a secret?"
Tegan smiled that confident smile, "Man, of course I can." Tegan by nature was a very private man. The thought of sharing secrets rarely occurred to him.
Troy locked eyes with Tegan, "Not even Tiffany. Especially, Tiffany."
Although Tegan knew it was nearly impossible to keep a secret from Tiffany, he said, "Especially, Tiffany."
Troy leaned in with a conspiratorial smile, " I'm going to propose to Tracy while we are in Germany."
"What? Congratulations!"
"I bought a ring months ago. I can't seem to find the right time, moment, place. I tried when we were camping in Traverse City. That was a colossal fail. It's Germany or bust."
"I'm sure there'll be hundreds of perfect moments in Germany", said Tegan taking a gulp of his dark microbrew.
The girls return to the table. The couples plan their Germany adventures. And Tegan completely forgets about the proposal plan.
The couples arrive in Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. They don the traditional clothing and grab mugs of beer. The boys weren't crazy about wearing lederhosen but when in Germany... They spend the night drinking, laughing mingling with the crowd. Out of the blue Tegan remembered the proposal. Before his beer addled brain could process the words coming out of his mouth, he jabbed Tiffany in the ribs, "Troy is going to propose while we are here."
"Are you sure? How do you know?"
"Troy told me." The realization of what he had just said dawned on him. A look that was not lost on Tiffany.
"Were you supposed to tell me?" She couldn't help but smile. She knew she was his Achilles heel. He couldn't keep a secret from her. It nearly killed him keeping his own proposal a secret.
"No. So don't say anything. Don't do anything. Leave it to Troy."
Tiffany promises not to say anything, not to interfere. However, her mind was already identifying beautiful places her best friend would love to have a proposal.
Tiffany was constantly on edge looking for the perfect place. Someone suggested walking on the Geierlay suspension bridge. She thought this could be a beautiful place for a proposal. However, once on the bridge her mind was far from proposals. The bridge may have been beautiful, she wasn't sure because her eyes were focused forward the whole time. In her eagerness to leave the bridge behind, Tiffany stumbled and fell to the ground. Tegan ran to scoop her up. The joy of being known to be clumsy was he was ever ready. The two look at each other laughing. Tiffany dusts herself off, "my guess is not here."
Tegan smiles and echoes "Not here".
Germany's countryside is dotted with castles everywhere. The foursome trodded up a million ancient stairs to admire the castles views. Everyone was getting a little tired of walking when mother nature open her skies and rain poured out. Not a huge rain but it was definitely wet. Tracy was more than over the walking and the rain. It was safe to say she was over the day when they reached Neuschwanstein Castle. Troy, Tegan and Tiffany wanted to enjoy the walk up to the castle. Tracy wanted to join the "old people" and take the shuttle to the castle.
"Troy, please take the shuttle with me," said a somewhat pouting Tracy. All of these hills and steps were well beyond her level of conditioning. She had spent the day huffing and puffing. She wanted comfort.
Although Troy loved her immensely, he was over the grumpiness. "No."
Tracy's eyes now pleading, "Please take the shuttle with me."
Troy's response was a turn toward the castle stairs as he secured his backpack.
There was some concessions Tracy was willing to make. This was not one of them. She was Fing tired of walking uphill. "if he loved me, he would take the shuttle," said Tracy to no one in particular. She stomps her way to the shuttle. She smiled greeting the "old people" and took her seat.
The shuttle ride was super quick. She arrived long before her companions. Deciding not to wait for them she began her tour alone. She walked across a very cool bridge. Stopped to enjoy the view while posing for selfies. As she is heading down, she meets her companions trudging up.
"Hey Honey, do you want to go see the rainbow? It's peeking through the rain," Troy inquired.
Tracy still holding a grudge says, "No. Been there. Done that already." The words in her mind were quite different. "If he wanted to be with me, if he loved me, he would have sacrificed and taken the shuttle with me."
Troy extends a hand, an olive branch of sorts. Reluctantly, Tracy accepts. They walk toward the bridge. Tracy begins to wander in a different direction. Tiffany interjects, "hey there's some sunshine over there by the bridge. You can get a beautiful picture."
The couple headed toward the sunny spot. Troy was resigned to the moment being very memorable if not the moment every girl had dreamed of. His mind was racing with all he knew about Tracy. She deplored being the center of attention. He knew he could not propose with a crowd around them. He briefly thought he would go down on one knee. Not only would that draw attention, Tracy may laugh before realizing he was serious.
Troy opens his backpack. "Damn it! I think I left my camera up the hill. Let's go get it."
Tiffany surmised Troy was making his move. She nudged Tegan who continued to linger. "Tegan, let's go. Give them some privacy. I think Troy is proposing." They nonchalantly walk away.
Tracy turns to tell Troy he can walk up that freaking hill by himself. He's holding the backpack. Obviously, there was no camera there.
Troy asks Tracy what she sees in the bag. "I don't know. What am I supposed to see?" That bitchy feeling was raising its head again. She looks a little closer. 'What is it?"
"I love you! We have been together a long time. Will you marry me?"
Tracy was stunned. She didn't hear a word Troy said. "Wait. what did you say?"
"Will you marry me?"
Tracy was weeping holding onto Troy. "Yes, yes I will marry you!"
The newly engaged couple walked downhill to the brewery to meet their friends. One look at Tegan and Tiffany, Tracy knew they already knew the news. "Congratulations guys," they said in unison.
Even though Tracy was excited and happy. Her companions were able to sadness creeping around her eyes. Troy knew where her thoughts were. Tracy's grandmother was in Hospice. She was very old fashioned. She wanted some to take care of Tracy. She wanted a strong stable man for her independent granddaughter.
"Do you want to call your grandmother," Troy said squeezing her shoulder. Before the question was completely out Tracy had her phone in hand. Tracy's mom answered the call. Grandma was notified first, She sent a thumbs up emoji to congratulate the couple. Grandma was not the only one excited. Tracy's mother did not realize the engagement was not public yet. The couple hadn't shared the good news with their kids yet. Needless to say mom shared the good news on Facebook. The kids found out about the engagement via Facebook. This little faux pas didn't diminish grandma was first to know. Her death less than a month later was a nod to the happy couple.
Tracy and Troy are still planning the wedding. We look forward to sharing that special day with them!
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