Subject: Engaged @ Hedo 

11/24/05 11/30/05

Ok so, to begin with I pretty much decided on the whole thing about 6 months ago.  Came back from Key West trip and started shopping around.  Didnt take me long to decide what better time and place than our beloved Hedo, Jamaica.   

I found a few moments with Beths parents, and specifically her Dad, sometime late Aug.  I told them I loved her very much and that, with their blessing, I wanted to marry their daughter.  Fran cried and Alex solemnly shook my hand; green light.  Other than them and a couple other folks in Fl, I never told a soul. 

Oh, well, I did let Ray Ray in on it, but his lips were sealed too. 

I found the perfect ring that I wanted right cut, right size, silver in color (i.e. white gold), and picked it up the day before we left.  Packed it, didnt declare it, and hoped for the best.  These days airport security is tougher than customs no problem mon.  

Id planned on asking her at dinner at Pastafaris one of a few places folks get dressed up.  Id give it to the matre dei and have it delivered on a covered plate after dinner.  Dvo would be there, unawares but camera in hand. After waiting 4 days for the dinner night, Beth had a bit much rum-punch with Tease that afternoon and left dinner early.  Cursed rum!   

The next day, Beth wanted to go to Ricks Caf to see the cliffs and watch the sunset.  Ricks is a popular tourist stop: an open-air bar and restaurant famous for the breath-taking cliffs and coves its sits on, the Jamaican divers that jump from those 40ft cliffs, and for its gorgeous unobstructed sunsets.  The other four on the trip had previous plans making it just the two of us. 

So I grabbed the box before we left and hid it on my person for the next 2 hours, shopping and strolling, till sunset.  We had drinks, listened to the reggae band play, and watched the sunk sink towards the blue horizon line.  And I waited (chain smoking).   

As soon as the sun touched the water about 5:35 I asked Beth to dance with me.  We moved towards the center of the earthen dance floor, then I stopped her, told her I loved her and to close her eyes.  She smiled, closed her eyes and covered them with her hands (later shed explain that even then shed no idea what was coming).  There were folks all around us at that point, and while her eyes were closed I silently took out the box and held it up high for all to see.  All eyes were now on the unaware Beth. 

I got down on my left knee, held the opened box towards her in my right hand, and said ok baby, you can open your eyes now.  As soon as she did she looked at me wide-eyed, then at the ring, gasped oh my God and began crying.  I said baby I love you very, very much, will you be marry me and be my wife?  She nodded furiously and sobbed out something that sounded like a uh-huh.  I stood and kissed her to the applause of cheering strangers all around us.   

I held her for what seemed like hours while she cried tears of happiness on my shoulder, while everyone smiled and looked on at us, some of them crying too. 

The Jamaican vocalist then said they would play a special song for the special couple, and we came back into the center and danced alone to reggae Stand By Me. 

We got back and she shared the news with Mike & Anastasia, and Dvo and Jen, and everyone she knew on the resort. 

Weve both pretty much been grinning since then. 

No, we havent set a date yet 

Kevin_N_Va_Beach (of the VA Beach Crew)