Proposal: Origami Hearts, Parks, & a Cravat

It was around 6:30 pm on Friday, June 29. I had just gotten home from working a 10 hour day without a break and had ended my work day by taking patients from the adolescent pysch unit bowling. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I got a text from Nate asking what I was up to that night. I decided to be cheeky and told him I was going to wash my hair. Shortly after that, the door bell rang. My roommate Alicia had ordered a pizza and so I let her get the door. Instead of a pizza delivery man there was a GPS and a note folded into a heart (Nate gave me various origami pieces through out our courtship).  The note read:

This is the beginning of a great adventure for the both of us. Today I need you to find me somewhere around Pocatello by following the GPS I have given you along with clues I have left behind. I am sending you locations that have become dear to my heart, so at each destination look for the heart shaped clues. I will try to keep the clues close to where you stop your car. Best of luck, and I love you! Proceed to location 03 on the GPS favorites. Clue: The roots for my love run deep. P.S. Hurry, I am probably pacing nervously wherever I am if you can't find the clue you can always cheat and call me :P 

I had a feeling what was coming. I spent a little bit cleaning up, but tried not to take too long for Nate's sake. I jumped in my car and drove down the hill to a park by where both of us lived.

The second note read:

Welcome to Scarino Park! I came here to play a million times as a kid, but recently it has taken on new meaning. In this park we made a decision that starts my dream of living life along someone I love. That day {May 31, 2012} will always be in my memory as the one of the happiest I have ever had. Your destination is 06 on the GPS. You'll know it when you get there. Clue: I didn't need a SIGN to know the FIRST time you left my side you would also leave a HOLE in my heart. (Corny? You know you love it!)

 Nate didn't have the exact GPS location for this park and so it took me to an apartment complex which happened to be right across the street.

The note behind this sign read:

Ah, the old disc golf course. You had to see this one coming a mile away. I can't ever play without being reminded of our first "dates" (and the other boys you brought along.) {I brought along one boy and it was once} It was while playing that we really became friends and for me our friendship will always be the core our of relationship. I am lucky to have the privilege of walking through life with a friend like you. Your next destination is 04 on the GPS. Clue: I could sit here all day talking with you.

I knew the place where he was talking about, but had difficulty finding the note at the pavilion (I was looking on the poles and tables, not on the benches). I even asked two random girls that were hanging out at the parking lot if they had seen a red origami heart. I did try call him to cheat on the third clue, but apparently his phone didn't get service with where he was at. Part of our first date we went back to Nate's house for hot chocolate and tim tams, so I tried to call his mom to see if I was supposed to go up there. Finally, Nate got service and was able to call me and give me more of a direction. He tried to place the heart as close to where he remembered sitting (and if my memory is correct, he was right on).

The final note read:

Phew, that was a long drive from the last clue. {Note the sarcasm, it was really just up the street} It was here at booth barn field that we sat down and talked for the first time. You know the story here. It only took me four months from that time to "ask you out" and seven to actually ask you out. My admiration and love for you has grown leaps and bounds since then and we are still only at the beginning of love. I look forward to a lifetime of mistakes and growth but also happiness and joy. Your next destination is 09 on the GPS. From there turn left up City Creek Trail Road (the dirt road.) Stay on that road till you see my car on the left (marked as 02 on the GPS) Clue: I can't wait to see you there.

I didn't know if Nate and I were going to be hiking somewhere or not. As you can see in the last picture, I wasn't wearing the best shoes to go for a hike it. I texted Nate to see if I needed hiking boots and he told me that I didn't.

As was on this adventure I was listening to a mix of music by Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and similar artists. However, I kept going back to "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Moonlight Seranade" both by Frank Sinatra. I remember driving up into the hills and thinking how beautiful Pocatello looked (normally I don't like the way that it looks).

The sun was going to be setting soon and the evening light was rich and golden. There was a fork in the dirt road and neither one really went straight. I started to go down one of the dirt roads, second guessed myself, turned around and then headed back to the fork and headed down the other one. I called Nate again after being on the other road  for a while and it turned out it was the first round that I was suppose to go down. Unfortunately, there was no place to turn around and so I had to drive it in reverse a good 200 yards.

I was beginning to see parts of City Creek Trails that I recognized. There are these little areas along the trails where people have cut out some of the branches and bushes and you have this private alcove. I remember on a hike up there thinking it would be a perfect place for a picnic proposal. This isn't what Nate had in mind; it turned out to be much better.



I turned the corner and I saw this:

I started to laugh only because I did not expect him to do that. Nate usually teases me about liking what he called "bonnet books" (19th century romances).  I get out of the car and walk over to him.  As he pulls a read origami heart from his coat pocket and gets down on one knee he tells me, "I have one last heart to give you and it's mine if you will be my wife." He unfolds it and there is his grandma's engagement ring.

I start to cry and I said "Yes" and quoted the 2005 Pride & Prejudice by saying "Yes! A thousand times yes!"
Then we kissed and took pictures.

I then asked if he would dance with me. I rolled down the window of my car and played "The Way You Look Tonight" (since I knew I would never see him in that outfit again).

Forget the knight in shining armor, I prefer a gentleman wearing a cravat.