To my beautiful wife, Joy
Love, Clint
The warm, late afternoon July breeze was relaxing my mind after speaking with the Ellsworth, WI, High School principal. I had just made an agonizing decision to turn down the sophomore English and junior varsity boys' basketball coaching positions. Before making the phone call, I thought I would instantly second guess the opportunity to elevate my job status, but after hanging up, a calm confidence swept over me. I was as certain about my future as anyone could ever be. I didn't want a new job in order to be closer to my beautiful girlfriend, Joy. I wanted her to be with me all of the time.
It had been the best year of my life. Joy and I were approaching our one year dating anniversary, and my mind was swimming for the best plan to sweep Cinderella off her feet. I just had to come up with a scintillating idea for a scintillating woman. I decided that her favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot, would be the ideal location. We both loved chocolate, so I bought a plate to take to the romantic fondue eatery to use as our dessert dish, placing stickers spelling out Joy, will you marry me?
The first problem: how would I get the plate to Minneapolis from Bloomer when our anniversary was the next day? I was thinking about hiding it from her and discussing the situation with the server before the date, but that didn't seem like a good idea. I also thought about making the two hour trek that night myself. The only problem with that was Joy wondering what I was doing. She was living with her parents for the summer, a 2.5 mile distance from my parents' house where I was staying during the summer months following my first year teaching. I couldn't just make something up and leave; Joy was too smart and inquisitive for that. I was contemplating the issue for awhile before my dad said he wanted to go to the Twins game that night. Problem solved!
Dad dropped me off at The Melting Pot, and I gave the plate to the ladies working at the front desk. They were especially giddy with excitement to be a part of the most important moment of my life.
The following evening, I flew to Joy's house, not realizing I was driving 45 miles per hour in a 25 miler per hour zone. My future bride bounced out the front door as I pulled into the driveway. She looked stunning, as usual. We left for Minneapolis, both looking forward to the night ahead for vastly different reasons.
When we arrived at the restaurant, the hostess immediately seated us. The server winked in my direction, ready to aid in the plan. We were soon enjoying the multi-course meal of salmon, shrimp, and sirloin. Joy said it tasted exquisite, but I couldn't tell. My mind was elsewhere.
After finishing dinner and waiting for the dessert platter, I slipped the ring in my pocket onto my left pinky, waiting for the right moment. Finally, it came. The plate was beautifully decorated with an assortment of delicious treats. Joy dove in while I nibbled nervously. My stomach was churning with nerves over the impending question and the possibility of chocolate being plastered to the front of my teeth for the big moment. At last, she started uncovering the message sheltered by a piece of cherry-topped vanilla cheesecake. A confused look swept across her face once she started discovering the letters. After scraping away the cake, Joy read the inscription and whipped her head towards me. I immediately dropped to one knee and proposed with both the ring and me ready to be accepted or denied.
My new fiancee squealed with delight as she said yes, crying and laughing at the same time, thus inventing the term, craughing. We embraced the moment and one another as we dreamed about all the future had in store for us.
The drive back home was filled with wedding plans and dreams for the future. Watching Joy's eyes and smile light up the dark night further cemented in my heart that I had found the one meant for me. As I dropped her off at my soon-to-be in-law's house, we knew we didn't want to wait through a long engagement to be together. Five weeks later, we were married. Happily Ever After had officially begun.
