Card Games and Proposals

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in a major Magic tournament. While I did not win, I had an absolute blast and enjoyed my experience. I bring this part up because, in Round 2, I was witness to an innovative and very adorable proposal.

For quick reference, a player may request another player receive a deck check if he/she feels there is something suspicious occuring.

A woman's boyfriend asked a judge to check his girlfriend's deck. He walked up to the judging station with the judge, whispering something to him as he did so. When they returned, the judge presented her with her deckbox and said "Please be careful opening your deckbox."

Next thing you know, the guy is on one knee, and inside the deckbox, on top of her deck, is a ring.

Now, let me tell you, this is awesome, and a perfect example of how to use something you and your significant other are passionate about in order to have an amazing emotional experience. The love that these two shared with one another and for this game showed in that one moment, and I felt extremely warm inside. There was a stoppage of time and we all gave them a standing ovation (the entire round got a time extension!), as well as a congratulations given from the head judge and the judging station.

If you should learn anything from this, it's that you should never be afraid to share your passions with who you love, nor should you be afraid to use those passions to cultivate and elevate your relationship. Grow your love through the other things in life that you love, and you will be very happy. The sign of a happy, healthy relationship is one where each person can feel comfortable sharing and telling one another about their passions. This lucky couple just so happened to love a game so much that a creative proposal was thought up. Some may find it tacky, but I spoke with the lucky bride-to-be after the round ended and she told me that she was so proud and honored to have been proposed to in a room full of fellow Magic players, because they all shared her passion for the game, and she wouldn't have been proposed to any other way.

In case it wasn't obvious-she said yes!

An Honest Proposal

He drove for about five hours to come see her that weekend. She was going away to their future home together-down in Louisville, Kentucky. She had to leave about five weeks before he was ready to go down there with her, so there would be a lot of time apart from one another. They loved each other very much, you see, and they dreaded having to spend so much time apart. It was only a few months ago that he had made his decision on what he was going to do. He knew that there was no doubt in his mind about how he felt about her. He was going to marry her one day. He also knew he wasn't going to let her move away before proposing.

He had thrown around a bunch of ideas in his head. Take her to all her favorite places in the city, and then pick one spot and propose there? A fair option, but timing was poor and an opportunity never presented itself. Perhaps he could set up an elaborate adventure, with grand designs, elaborate sets, and all other manner of over-the-topness. No, she had said she didn't want it to be like that. What, then? What was the best thing to do?

He thought long and hard about it, and then realized the answer was very simple. The best way to do it was to do it as simple and pure as possible. Take her somewhere where you could both be alone, drop down to one knee, and ask the question. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am.

But when and where remained the questions in his head. Time was running out, and the party and the shore house was fast approaching. That's when it hit him. The party would be perfect. A lot of their friends would be there to share in their happiness, and he would be able to take her someplace nice and quiet to ask her. The plan was set in stone. Now to get the ring.

She had once told him that she heard of a man who proposed using his old class ring from high school. It just so happened that he had found his old class ring from high school not so long ago. She had specifically said she wanted to buy her ring together with him, so they could get the best possible one.

The ring was chosen, the time and place were set. Now he played the silent waiting game.

When it finally happened, she was so overwhelmed with happiness and delight that she didn't hesitate to say yes. She cried tears of joy and accepted the ring from him, commending him on keeping a secret so well hidden. She was thrilled that their shared dream had  finally come true. All of their friends were ecstatic, hugs were shared, and loving words were exchanged. Her parents had given him their blessing, of course, and were very happy for the both of them.

That's the story of how I proposed. Perhaps it will be a good guide for everyone else out there :).