E-Day Matt's Perspective

Okay, so Mel has had her say about what being proposed to is like. Now PROPOSING is an entirely different story...

I'm on tour with "Love You Forever and other Stories" in the wilds of winter enslaved Manitoba. Well, not really wilds - I love Manitoba. Except that half of the year, the environment is trying to kill you so yes, it can seem a bit inhospitable. And thoughts turn to those we love. I know I want to propose to Mel because I want spend the time I've been given with her. And I want to celebrate our love surrounded by all our friends and family as we commit ourselves to each other.

The Plan:

Our tour is heading to Crystal City, not far from Bruxelles where Mel is from and where her parents live (and where the wedding is) and it's a Friday show. Mel will drive out so that she and I can spend the weekend together. LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW I've phoned ahead and arranged a horse-drawn sled ride. I've bought the ring in Brandon, it's traveling Manitoba with me. As the sun sets over the Tiger Hills, I'll propose.

SNAG!

Two days before E-Day, I call Mel and she's going to Toronto to be a Dove model. Yay/dammit.

New Plan:

Wait until we both are in Winnipeg. Much easier than over the phone or online (has microsoft invented that emoticon yet? a diamond ring beside a smiley with one eybrow raised?). No horses in Winnipeg so something else. We're actors so it should be dramatic. Something epic, like our love. So a swordfight by the river seemed natural.

I secretly meet with James, Brent and Jacquie (all of whom have had the good sense to invest in swords), we come up with the perfect fight (I beat them soundly) now I just need to get Mel to the spot and trust me, getting on her calendar is not easy. But I squeeze in a "date night" where she's all mine. Except she has an audition. Fine, when she gets home she'll find a note telling her where to go. She wants me to come with her and we can go out from there. Fine, I'll improvise, steal some paper from Cinematheque and tape it on a handrail for her to find.

I run home, grab the car and head down to Osborne, change into my tights in the car outside the restaurant and head to the river walk. And from someone who knows, dressing in Elizabethan tights and carrying four swords through Osborne Village incites a lot less interest than you'd expect. Jacquie, Brent and James are all ready to go. I'm nervous and ready to go. We just need Mel.

In my defense to Mel's previous post, I thought for sure a) she would walk down Osborne street to get to the riverwalk, thus having to pass by our ambush and b) our "first kiss bench" was closer to the bridge and c) the riverwalk would not be as impassably wet as it turned out to be.

We run through the fight a few times, now that Mel is half an hour behind schedule. Brent is working his cell phone like a beast trying to get in touch with her and "suggest" she wander by the legislative steps. Tourists are taking pictures. I'm standing on a high pedestal, statuesque (me hopes) looking for her. 45 minutes late. Piss, I'm going to wander up Osborne towards Portage to try and spy her. Halfway to the street... gee that sounds like my crew crying "Argh we have ye lassie"

OH PISS, IT'S HER! I'm completely out of position!

Fortunately the evil three have grabbed Mel and distract her (oddly enough) allowing me to leap over some barriers and get where I need to be. We fight. Mel is stunned. I seem to remember her hyperventilating and glancing wildly around, not really sure where she is. The fight ends and I reach into the snowbank where I've hidden the ring box. Now my proposal.

OH PISS, I'VE FORGOTTEN MY PROPOSAL.

And I didn't remember it. Cobbled together something about love and devotion. All truly meant and sincere, but jim-jabbered up by nerves. Probably came out "Arw waha jillma nah grabba NAH?" And she said yes.

Go figure. Though upon reflection, the proposal did turn out to be representative of our relationship. Lots of twists, confusion on all parts, totally unscheduled. But fun.

/:D Q

(This post is sponsored by the Evil 3, who phoned ahead to Mise restaurant and bought us a bottle of wine. 'Til we cross swords again)