Healthy Chicks

For those of you who don’t yet know, yesterday something incredibly magical and life-changing happened for me: The Boy & I got engaged. And for those of you who don’t know, The Boy’s real name? Jason. Let’s call him “J.”

And now for the million-dollar question, How did he do it? Well ladies (and gents), I’m about to tell you…

On Friday evening we were out in Rockport celebrating our beautiful friends Ross and Megan’s wedding. While we were dancing (and perhaps after a tad too much wine), J asked me if I’d like to go for a run with him in the morning on the Charles before we took off for his mother’s 60th birthday celebration.

I immediately laughed at him and teased him for suddenly showing such interest in exercise. While he most definitely works out from time to time, usually I’m the one pushing we go on runs together more often. He snapped back at me that it’s only going to be fall for so long and we should take advantage of the weather while we can. So I agreed.

The next morning I woke up exhausted and somewhat hungover. J was no longer in bed, so I went to look for him and found him stretching in the living room. “Ready for our run baby? I already brewed the coffee!’

With eyes half shut and hair in my face, I told him he was crazy and that I’d rather go back to bed. But after a bite to eat and some coffee, suddenly a river run was sounding quite enticing.

So we set out for our Saturday morning run…together…both not feeling 100% but forging through. I noticed when we just crossed over to the Charles that J had his hand in his pocket a couple times & some suspicion set in but I brushed it off and thought, “No way…you’re just over-thinking things again Rachel!”

As we came around the small bridge bringing us closer to the water, J tripped and took a major digger. “Ouch, my ankle!” “Are you OK?” I replied back as I continued to jog in place. And he just kept shouting “My ankle!” Then he said “My wrist, I mean my ankle!”

So I walked a little closer to him, and he grabbed my hands, got down on one knee and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Then he popped the question…right there in front of my favorite weeping willow tree on the Charles River…overlooking Boston. The city we love. The city that brought us together. He had been waiting to take me to that tree until he proposed.

I said yes.

Runners passing by began shouting and cheering for us as we embraced under my special spot. It was absolutely perfect, more than I ever dreamed of it to be.

The most special part of the story is that he proposed on his mother’s birthday, who for those of you who don’t know has been coping with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease for several years now. This year, her husband (J’s step-father) threw a beautiful party for her to celebrate her 60th birthday among 120+ friends and family.

To be there with her, sharing the beautiful day with so much laughter, love and good food, was more than I could ever ask for.

Feeling so much love & joy right about now.