Bert &Cheryl

When it comes to finding the one who you want to spend the rest of your life with, whether you've known each other for one month, or 10 years - time does not define but it is, of the essence. All we know is that we want to spend the rest of our lives with each other, and wish that day to start as soon as we can get it to start.

From Vancouver to New Jersey, long distance relationships are definitely not easy. However, Bert and I know each other is worth the distance and we do everything we can to make it work. We talk on the phone, blackberry messenger throughout the day and Skype almost every night. Time is only a factor and it didn't take much to realize that we were meant for each other. We began talking about marriage and about the kind of "ring" I wanted. Not ever having looked at rings before, I had no idea. In my most recent trip to the eastcoast, Bert decided to take me ring shopping to see what kind of ring I liked. He took me to a store in Jersey and after trying on what felt like a hundred rings, I finally found a ring I fell in love with. Bert asked me if I was sure that was "the ring" and I said yes. The salesman thought we were going to buy the ring right then and there but Bert and I still wanted to shop around, so he told the salesman he'd come back another day. And knowing Bert, I knew he just said that so we could leave!

After a few days, I flew to Toronto for my brother and Aimee's wedding. Our friends Kenneth and Jean recommeded a Diamond wholesaler who sell rings cheaper. I asked Bert if he wanted me to make an appointment. After coming to an agreement that it was worth checking out, it was scheduled for the morning of our departure back to our respective homes. We went to the wholesaler, and in search of the original ring I found in Jersey, I couldn't find it! I settled with something similar only to find out, the ring was actually more expensive. Bert was tired and hungry and just wanted to leave. We told the saleswoman we'd be in touch. I was a little upset that I couldn't find anything similar to the ring I originally found, so we made plans to maybe see another store after lunch.

We had lunch at a restaurant at the Lakeshore and during lunch, Bert saw a small stretch of land across the lake and asked if we could go there. After we ate, we drove over and being the couple that we are, took picture after picture. As we were standing on the rocks, he says to me, "lets make a wish." In agreement, he takes a coin out of his pocket, closes his eyes and makes a wish. The whole 2 minutes during his wish making, I was thinking, "what is he wishing for taking so long!?" When he finished making his wish, he opens his eyes, throws the coin into the lake and says, "your turn," I reply, "where's the coin?" and he says, "in my pocket." I go into his sweater pocket full of coins, and along with the coins.. I felt something out of place... My heart stopped at what I thought it was, and I exclaim, "What the heck is this?!" pulling out, what in fact was my beautiful ring. Shocked and in utter disbelief, I am at a loss for words. He goes down on one knee and says, "I've waited my whole life for this, and for you and I don't want to waste anymore time being without you all the time. _____________ (the one time I didn't mind my middle name!) will you marry me?" and I say, "Yes, of course I will!" I was soo happy and I couldn't stop smiling and hugging him and telling him how much I loved him, and staring at the ring of course! But I was still in shock, because I really had no idea!

Being the traditional couple that we are, I suddenly realize and think about my parents, and I ask "wait, did you ask my parents?" and he replies, "no.... I didn't have a chance, and I didn't want to take away from Jeff and Aimee's wedding. And you were always with me, I couldn't find the right time...and I wanted to surprise you" so we had to keep it a secret for an entire week and a half until he finally flew to Vancouver to ask my parents for my hand in marriage and it became official :)

After many nights of late conversations on the phone and skype-ing, Cheryl and I started talking about marriage. One night I asked Cheryl what kind of ring she liked, and she actually didn't know, so I told her to start looking. She started telling me about the kind of ring she thought she wanted and I was really unfamiliar of what she was talking about, cut, clarity.. something? So after enlightening me all about it, we both decided to go ring shopping on her next visit in Jersey.

During her recent trip to Jersey, and after a failed attempt in surprising her for a skydiving lesson due to a change of weather, Cheryl and I went to a jewellery store to look around for her perfect engagement ring. After going through the task of looking at many rings and different cuts and shapes, Cheryl finally found a ring she fell in love with. I asked her if that was the ring that she wanted, and she replies, "Yes I like this one!" and I told her it was perfect! The salesman was ready to take all my information thought I was ready to buy it that day. In my head I was asking myself, "Thats not how it works, or is it? The girl should be surprised and be swept off her feet. I'm not supposed to buy the ring right here and now and propose in front of the salesmen am I?" The salesman seemed disturbed when I told him that we were still shopping around. I gave him my number and asked for his business card just in case Cheryl and I aren't able to find anything ;)

A week after Cheryl left for Toronto to help Ate Aimee and Kuya Jeff for their wedding, I decided to call the salesman to find out if the ring my girlfriend wanted was still available. The salesman asked me if i was ready to purchase and pick up the ring. I asked how long they could hold it for and he said, only a week.  That's when I decided to put a down payment. Before my road trip to Toronto with my parents, I went back to the jewellery store to finalize my purchase for the ring and for the first time in my life, I finally bought something that my heart told me to buy :)

While In Toronto, Cheryl told me about a wholesale jewellery distributor that a close friend of hers recommended, not knowing I already purchased the ring she liked. So, to keep the element of surprise I told her "yes that would be great and maybe we'll find a better deal." During our appointment later that week, we came across many rings but nothing compared to the ring that Cheryl found back in Jersey. After spending an hour with Ming Gojang, the saleswomen helping us, who by the way had killer morning breath! I told Cheryl it was actually more expensive there and that I was really hungry and tired. (playing my part) We decide to leave to get some lunch. Knowing Cheryl was a bit disappointed, I told her it was ok because we'd still go shopping.

We went to on our lunch date for our 7 months anniversary. While enjoying ourselves and talking about our future plans, I was already planning where I could bow down on one knee and propose. I wanted a secluded area overlooking the water. I spotted a small penninsula in front of the restaurant, so I told Cheryl I wanted to take pictures there afterward. Once we finished eating lunch, we took a few pictures in front of the restaurant and headed towards the place I saw. When we arrived, we started walking along the path, taking more pictures on the way. Little did she know that I was already scoping the place for a perfect spot to propose. Finally we reached the end of the path and we were at the place I was thinking of proposing. I ask her if she wanted to take pictures on top of the rocks even tho it was a bit dangerous. After setting up the camera on timer and running towards me, I took her hand and helped her on top of the rocks with me. Nervously getting ready, I told her, "we should both make a wish and throw some coins in the water!" So I took a loonie out of my pocket and held it across my heart while making a wish. My wish was "Please dear God may her answer be yes!" I threw the coin in the water and told her it was her turn. I asked her to reach inside of my sweater pocket, and grab one of the coins. While she was reaching inside, she felt something oddly shaped and pulled it out. In shock, her reaction was "What the Hell is this!!" I went down on one knee, took the ring and grabbed her hand. As I nervously said "I waited my whole life for this and for you and I dont want to waste anymore time without you completely, _____________ will you marry me?" She answers, "Yes! of course I will!" I gave her the biggest hug, bigger than the first one I ever gave her. While my heart was pounding against my chest, I told her "I Love you so much"

After being in shock and disbelief, Cheryl asked me if I asked her parents for there blessings and I replied "no not yet!" She yelled "why not? I cant believe you!" while smiling of course! I told her that I didnt want to take away from Jeff and Aimee's wedding and that I didnt have a chance to. So I planned an emergency trip to Vancouver to get her parents permission and blessings ;)