Because I'm in love...

It seems funny to me that in a given situation characteristics will emerge that you didn't expect. On Monday, July 13th I asked Elizabeth Anne Pierce to marry me. I had originally planned on asking her in September, but once I had the ring, I couldn't wait. I couldn't risk her seeing it beforehand. I couldn't risk it getting lost. I couldn't trust to the playa behaving. And so I went down the list of contingencies until I reached one that worked. I can't say I always have a backup plan, but in this case I had a dozen.

In the end, there's only one thing that matters. She said "Yes". I didn't have a contingency plan for that.

I now find that I'm a much stranger creature than I had originally thought. I find myself unable to even describe what's happening. I find the abstract ideas I had seeking manifestation. I generally only thought of weddings while at them. I have more ideas about the music than about the location, guest list, or bridal party.

I found myself torn between having a simple joining of hands in the woods and demanding that the gods kneel before us. It was this simple dichotomy that made it difficult to find an engagement ring. Putting the sun on Liz's finger was just impractical as was mining a stone myself.

I find, however, that I'm still me. There is no question that so infuriates me as "What were you looking to spend?" I'm asking a woman to spend the rest of her life with me. I'll spend the gross national product if I find a ring that works.

There were some limiting factors... I was not going to give my baby something I saw as tainted. I couldn't bring myself to buy a yellow diamond. I did take into consideration whether or not Liz could wear it without her arm getting tired.

I will have to see where the technology is in 10 years. I'm thinking an anniversary band the size of Cleveland. I hope the labs can make one by then.