After 8 years, I thought I would see a proposal coming from a mile away. Boy was I wrong. I had NO IDEA until he was already down on one knee.

It was Dec 10, 2022, the annual Marina Del Rey Christmas boat parade. Every year we get a bunch of friends, pile in the boat, and cruise around the marina admiring all of the amazingly decorated boats. This year we headed down a bit early because Isabel “wanted new dating app photos” and we thought it would be fun to take them at sunset.

We got out to the ocean as the sky lit up in pink and orange. It was a bit rocky, so I kicked my shoes off, directed Isabel to go where lighting looks best, and start snapping away. We get some great photos, but right before the sun actually starts setting, she suggests getting a few photos of David and I since we are dressed up. Still barefoot, we get up to the bow. David turns to me and points that we are coming up to the Venice pier, where we met. I turn to him very judgingly and say, “why are you being so cheesy?” The waves get going and I’m getting nauseous. He says, “just a couple more” and I try to smile through it. He says, “Ok, we can start to head back, but oh…. one more thing…” pulls out a tiny wood box, gets down on one knee, and asks me to marry him!