Ian seemed thrilled by his birthday present, two tickets for thrice (his favorite band) that we would be attending next week in the city, and a travel coffee mug from Starbucks. We set out for our day filled with surprises. The Broadway Diner was our first stop and we both had burgers for lunch. After our lunch we crossed the street and began our journey touring Ikea.
We found dishes and silverware that we loved. We spotted the coffee presses and mugs that we hope to fill our non-existent kitchen cabinets with. All the while I enjoyed dreaming about what our lives together could be like.
We tested armchairs, sofas, and coffee tables. We compared what we liked and found that we agreed on everything. Off in the distance I heard The Little Mermaid and followed the sound. The movie was playing in the children's area. I was thrilled. Everything was perfect.
After checking out almost every showroom, we left our land of home goods and hit the road again. As we headed to The Roosevelt Field Mall I began talking in a ridiculous voice, (I am known to mimic, create, and go a little overboard on voices. I dream of being discovered one day as a character for the latest animated children's movie... but that's just a side-note). We arrived at the mall and hit up the Starbucks. We decided to sit down and savor our coffee. We realized that the couches that we were sitting on were surrounded by some very interesting mall shoppers who all had a good 30-50 years on us. Ian was being disturbed by an elderly man in a suit with a free sample of organic juice. The man was very excited to share the good news with Ian (not to be confused with sharing about Jesus, he only received a free sample and wanted the world to know) and wound up spilling the contents all over his suit jacket and pants. Before we left we captured this picture.
A-TEAM was playing at the movie theatre and we hit that up. The movie was pretty decent and kept both of our attention. I leaned on Ian's shoulder thinking about how intensely in love I felt and how much I want to make him happy. Sometimes when we are quiet, or are pre-occupied with something else going on my mind will still find a way to wander back to him. Every time he laughed at something I smiled. It sounds cheesy but I've never felt so genuine about someone's happiness. Seeing him enjoying himself puts sparks into my heart. After the movie we spent some more time walking around the mall. Ian bought spiffy white shoes. I found a super deal on underwear. Overall we had a successful shopping day. (Picture disclaimer: These spiffy white shoes are actually mine, not to be confused with Ian's).
I had one more stop planned and that was dinner. Pizza was on the menu and I took Ian to Little Vincent's in Ronkonkoma. It was a rockin' Friday night there but we found a table conveniently located next to the most obnoxious customer. It's becoming a trend that if you put the both of us together odd people flock our way. Awkward situations are finding us out. We roll with them. We demolished two slices of pizza each, one pepperoni and one plain with additional cold cheese. It was delicious. Ian asked if we could drive down by the water, which is something we usually do and I said sure.
, I asked if my mom knew about this, and apparently she did. Ian decided to drive home, which was brilliant because I stared at the ring the whole time. I couldn't wait to see my parents and I smiled as I walked through the front door. They were excited for us, and the rest of the night was spent with phone calls and text messages filling our cellular devices. We watched a recorded Dave Matthews Band concert and continually called each other "fiance." I didn't want the day to end. All night I repeatedly woke up to check my finger to make sure the ring was still there. I've never been so excited, and sure about something. Ian is absolutely the man of my dreams, my best friend, my fiance, and loves me like I've never been loved before. I couldn't be more blessed.
