She said yes!

Well....Apparently there's been a complete shift in the space/time continuum and the order of things has completely changed. Who knew?

I mean, all my life, winter changed to spring, spring led to summer, summer to autumn, autumn to winter.  You're a baby, then a kid, then a teen, then a young adult, an adult, then an old fart, then have the mental capacity of a kid, then you're pooping in diapers again.

It's the circle of life.  C'mon Man!* You can't mess with certain things. 

But....Once again, waddoo I know?

So, on Good Friday, we had lunch with My Beautiful Daughter's (MBD) boyfriend.  After much hemming and hawing (and my allotted time to consume edibles and be away from my position on the foremost oar on the starboard side quickly running out), I cut to the chase and said, "BTW, the answer is yes."

Relief washed over the young man's face.

Mrs Juvat and I, having been given a very short notice (July 14th is the big day), immediately went into compressed planning mode.  Seriously, I've actually planned deployment of several hundred personnel to a small Pacific Island for a mission with less stress.  But, that just had the Nation's interests at hand.

This is my one and only Daughter!

IT MUST BE PERFECT!

But as we all know. Perfection is unattainable!

However, Mrs J and I go into research mode.  Find a venue, find a caterer, find a DJ, Florist...

We find options for all, but with the short notice, must confirm (confirm is the Latin word for "Lay down money") quickly.

Most of the contracts have a forfeiture clause if cancelled within 90 days of the event.  Guess which event is within 90 days?

So, we're (naively as it turns out) expecting a question to be asked and answered and are eagerly awaiting that answer before signing on the dotted line.

Well...apparently that's not how it's done nowadays.  Apparently you have to have a ring in order to ask a girl to marry you, now.

Did not know that.  Mrs J and I had been engaged for a couple of months before we had a weekend off to visit Zales and purchase an engagement (and wedding) ring. 

But that's not the way it is, today.  So, after a few stress filled days, waiting to get underway with contracts, we contacted our Future Son-in-Law (FSIL for the tambien) and had him explain the new "how to ask someone to marry you in the 21st century" bold face procedures.

With a much better understanding of modern life, copious quantities of dinero were distributed to various entities in the Texas Hill Country in exchange for their assurances to be at the proper place, at the proper time, with the proper assets.

Early last week, we were advised via Top Secret Communique (which was NOT routed through the Clinton Server), that said piece of jewelry had been procured and a Secret meeting would be conducted at 1700 on the top floor of the New Austin Public Library.  Said meeting was NOT to be discussed with the MBD.

Site of said meeting
Source

Appropriate travel arrangements were made, and the day finally arrives.

I awaken and do my usual routine, researching possible blog topics of course.  It's an overcast day and rain is forecast, but hasn't started as of yet.  I finish breakfast and am gathering things for to head to work when the sound of banshee's arises and the heavens unleash.  I pull out the radar app on the phone and notice a purple area headed towards Rancho Juvat and see Mrs J's  car beside the carport.  I grab the spare set of keys and head out to move it into the carport and then exit the carport in my truck.  Sit down and crank her up and notice that it's very loud in the car.  Looking over my right shoulder, I notice the right rear window is down.

My wife is not from Texas,  were she, she'd know that leaving windows down is a no-no.  I roll it up, and say a quiet prayer that since it was on the downwind side from the storm approach, that maybe ....

I'm headed into work now and going through a forested area.  With wipers going full blast, I'm creeping along fairly slowly and discern that there's something in the roadway.  Deer?  Hog?  Can't really tell as the wiper's are not very effective at clearing the windshield.  Inching forward, I see a large limb is blocking the road.

SIGH!

I get out of the truck and proceed to drag it off to the side.  Now, drenched to the skin, I get back in the truck and go to work.

Clean myself up as best I can, and begin my work day, just in time for the power to go off in our building. 

Perfect!

Sit there in the dim and dark, listening to the thunder and lightning, shivering and wondering about things in general for an hour of so.

Finally, power is restored and the world is safe for democracy.  Finally, departure time arrives and I bid my colleagues a fond adieu and depart with my bride for the fine city of Austin. 

We arrive at the library and are briefed on the final plan for the popping of the question.  Mrs J and I as well as FSIL's family and MBD's closest friends are to hide in the stacks while FSIL pops the question. 

Then we will be allowed to emerge and surprise MBD and "ooh and ahh".

So it is written, so it shall be.

We are gathered in the stacks and have been for about 10 minutes when up saunters one of Austin's finest who wonders what we are doing skulking about.

Now given that other than Mrs J and I and FSIL's Father and Mother, the average age of this gaggle is mid 20's and there's probably 25 of them, I can see his concern.  My counterpart and I explain to the officer that our children are getting engaged and we are going to surprise them.

Relief passes across his face and he wishes us good luck and departs.

The soon to be happier couple enter the target area,  FSIL drops to one knee, asks a question and presents the ring.  A loud pitched squeal is heard followed by a  kiss.

She said yes!

Now, I just got to make it down the aisle, without making a fool of myself.

The issue is in doubt.


*To quote a Judge