Happy Pumpkin Day

Eight years ago today, Malcom proposed to me with a pumpkin.

He had actually already proposed once before. In August of 2001, after a Temple session, he proposed to me while we were in the Celestial Room (without a ring, btw). After a LONG pause, my response was "You did not just ask me that!" I was shocked! It had taken me a long summer of fussing over him, breaking up with him twice, and generally not even knowing my own feelings before this. I was hardly thinking long-term, but I knew it was a fair question to ponder. I told him to give me some time. I'm so glad he agreed!

We kept dating like crazy and the idea of marrying him was really growing on me. In September, I really felt like I was ready for it. I had prayed a lot and my answer was clear: when I contemplated breaking it off, I got a very un-easy, confused, depressed feeling, and when I contemplated marriage, I was full of happiness. I told Malcom that I was ready and within a week, he took me ring shopping.

On October 4th, we were at Helzberg Diamonds (in Fiesta Mall in Mesa) looking at rings. He told me that his finances were tight, so he'd like me to look at something other than a diamond for the center stone. He'd get me a diamond for our first anniversary instead. I didn't care at all, I was just happy to be really taking the plunge! I was drawn to the purple tanzanite, a stone that I hadn't really thought of for an engagement ring before. It was an oval shape, also something I never thought I'd like, and had a diamond on each side. The setting was intricate, but not too ornate. I tried it on and it fit perfectly! (No re-sizing needed... maybe he'd give it to me right away!) I tried a few others, including some emeralds since I always thought I'd want that as a ring, but nothing compared to the tanzanite ring, MY ring.

Malcom purchased it, then put it in its lovely box, and in a Helzberg bag, and that was that. He carried it around the mall with us the rest of the night and didn't say a word about it! How frustrating!

I didn't have to wait long, thank goodness. The next day, Malcom called me in the evening and said that he was so excited to show me his pumpkin. He had been carving it all afternoon and really wanted me to see it. I thought it was a little weird because he was so JAZZED about a pumpkin and it wasn't really close to Halloween. But I told him to bring it over and then we could at least get our date started. When he rang the door, I opened it up to see him holding the pumpkin and it was already lit. Woah--this guy really likes Halloween!

(This isn't the exact pumpkin, but it is the very same pattern as the one he used.)

I told him it looked really cute and he did a good job. He said "You have to promise not to laugh about the candle, though." I took the bait perfectly without even knowing it--I said "What about the candle?" and as I lifted up the top of the pumpkin, there was my ring dangling from a string. When I looked back at Malcom, he was on one knee and asked me to marry him. I squealed (lame, I know!) and told him yes!!! I was so excited to put the ring on that I just let him stay there on one knee with a burning pumpkin for a second while I put it on. It was one of the best days of my life, honestly.

So now, every year, October 5th is Pumpkin Day. We give each other pumpkin-themed gifts and reminisce about the first time we spent that day together. When our first anniversary came around, he offered to get me the diamond, but I told him I truly didn't want any other ring than the first one because it was unique and unexpected, just like us.

(Yeah, I know that's a cheesy ending, but I really do feel like that about my ring and about my Malcom, so too bad!)