I'm sure thousands of couples have gotten engaged in Chapel Hill, but my
husband gave me a great engagement story, so I have to share. I usually
have a horrible memory, so the fact that I remember so many details
about this day should tell you how perfect it was for me.

My husband and I both graduated from UNC in 1997, but didn't meet until
2002, while living in Raleigh. After 15 months together, one Saturday
morning he told me to dress comfortably and be ready to be gone all day.


We got in the car and headed west on I-40. He kept where we were going a
surprise, even trying to trip me up by passing the first two exits for
Chapel Hill. Once we got to Franklin Street, we walked around and
finally headed to Pepper's for lunch. Afterwards, we just enjoyed Chapel
Hill for awhile, stopping in at Four Corners for a beer, etc.

Eventually, he asked me if I was ready to go and we got back in the car.
I thought we were headed out of town, but he parked next to the
Arboretum and started getting items out of the trunk. As we walked into
the seclusion of the park, I realized that he had a quilt that my
great-great-grandmother had made, a portable CD player, and a bag. When
he found a suitable spot, he laid down the quilt and revealed a bottle
of wine, glasses, some of our favorite CD's, and a book called "1,001
Ways to be Romantic." As we sipped on wine, we read and talked. Out of
the corner of his eye, he noticed some friends he hadn't seen in awhile
and we got up to catch up with them.

I'm not sure what triggered it, but soon after we sat back down, he
stopped the music, asked me to stand up, knelt and pulled my
grandmother's engagement ring out of his pocket. When he asked me to
marry him I started crying and hugged him. He had to pull me away from
him to ask me if I was saying yes.

After a few minutes of enjoying our new status, he suggested that we get
going as the mosquitos were biting. I thought we were headed home, but
instead he headed towards Carrboro. As he parked near the Carolina
Brewery, I noticed my brother who lived a few hours away, walking into
the restaurant. I asked my husband what was going on and he simply
smiled. When we walked in, everyone in my husband's family and my
family, including our parents, my three siblings and their significant
others, and his siblings and their spouses were there to greet us. We
had an exceptionally great dinner and it was a day and night that I'll
never forget...despite my horrible memory.