Part Twenty Nine: Of Rings and Things

So there I was, at the dojo. The goodbye was too recent to seem real, but at the same time I was severely bummed. Why, oh WHY did he have to be headed back to NC already?

Some things just make no sense.

My eyes hurt. People were trying to be nice to me because despite me being goofy and smiling, they knew I missed him a ton. Our dojo photographer was there to  capture some moments of test night, and whenever I saw her taking a photo of me, I made sure to look happy... but when I didn't, I definitely looked far less enthused. Can you tell?

You can tell I was struggling. It was only 45 minutes, but I wanted to be out of there so I could go home and try to figure out what all had happened. I had gone from Jacob 24/7 to normal life again so quickly, and I wasn't very sure how to mentally handle it.

I've never had a class take so dang long to finish.

Kids got their new belts. Stacey took more pictures. I was excited because I would FINALLY be able to go home and take a shower. Finally. I would be able to escape from everyone.

Sensei Carl called all the instructors up to the front of the room to bow out the class as we always did, but instead he told everyone to take a seat. I didn't think anything of it.

And that's when it happened.

I looked up, and there was Jacob, bolting through the dojo doorway on a mission.

My first thought was something along the lines of, "What a jerk!", but it quickly turned into a ohmygoshthisisreallyhappeningandholysmokesIcan'tmovemylegs feeling.

I knew it. The moment he came bursting in, shoes on and all, I knew what he was about to do.

And I couldn't move.

"I'm going to have to ask you to stand up," he said.

I did, but I don't remember that.

"Beth, I need to ask you a very important question..."

And he pulled out a blinged out, pineapple ring case and dropped to a knee.

This was the moment I could say something witty and hilarious and or adorable. 

"I HATE YOU!"

Well. There goes that. Years from now, I'll still be trying to explain my poor choice of words ;)

"But Beth... will you marry me?" 

Without another blemish on my part, I said yes.

I said yes.

And I watched as Jacob placed with shaking hands the most beautiful ring I had ever seen on my left ring finger.

I didn't even spend another second looking at my finger. I hugged Jacob tight and to the sound of all the parents in the lobby, all the kids in the dojo, and all the family members who looked on... Jacob and I were officially engaged. We. Were. Engaged.

And that's when the backstory came out. When I left for work and had watched Jacob and my mom drive away to the 'airport', they had actually gone back to my house once they knew I'd be gone.

From there, my family was gathered and assembled in order to storm the dojo properly, of course.

My mom and best friend, Kaitie, both had asked Jacob if he was going to dress in something nicer than athletic shorts and a Stark Industries t-shirt. He however, remembered all my griping about not showering and such and promptly told them that if I wasn't going to dressed up, he wasn't going to be either so that I wouldn't feel badly. And truth is, I appreciated that more than he probably knows.

After that, it was a blur. Hugs and cards and little dojo kids all oooh-ing over the ring. Photos and phone calls with the soon-to-be-in-laws, shocked faces and happy faces. Kids and parents that knew me so well seeing all this going down. Thankfully, my lovely sister recorded and captured some of the moments in these following videos.

http://www.magisto.com/album/video/cCgyTFhHAVd7LDAPYnZLB3k

http://www.magisto.com/video/PFlAK1caFG8pX0ViCzE

And all of a sudden, the world had changed. All of a sudden, things were just a little different... but not much. Just a little. Just enough to make all the difference in the world.

So thank you again for all the support, all the magic, all the prayers, all the tolerance of our obnoxious selves, and for following along as this story has been written. The good news is, it's not over yet! This is a story that goes on and on and on forever.

I'm going to be Bethany Clifton. I'm going to marry my best friend this October.

And that's how it should be.