This will be one of my favorite posts

Hello out there!!

So now it was time for winter break.  I had just finished my undergrad degree in Health and Physical Education; and it was time to celebrate.  We decided that it was time to go on a cruise.  It had actually been planned for quite some time now but we were leaving on January 11th!!!

The "we" of the cruise included my family, Dan's family, a few of Dan's Aunts and Uncles, and a few family friends.  People were getting suspicious about the purpose of this cruise.  Dan and me had been dating almost 5 years at this point and I don't remember one wedding where we didn't get the question "when are you two gonna tie the knot".  I have never been one to pressure Dan in any way.  I didn't really care about being married to him; we were already married in my eyes.  I also have learned not to get too excited about things, for fear that they do not happen the way you picture them in your head. 

So we left for a week long cruise of the southern caribbean.  This was my first cruise, and the longest time Dan and me have ever spent together.  I know what you are thinking....Dan and me lead very busy lives and though we see eachother everyday sometimes, it is never 24/7 for a week.  It would be heaven.

The first day would be mostly plane rides and boarding the ship.  We settled a little in our room and then ventured out to see what this boat was all about.  We of course found the casino; Dan found roulette.  Day 1 was all-in-all not so bad.  The second day was a day at sea; so it was a formal dinner night.  It was January 13th.  We had hung around the pool during the day, ate lots of food of course, drank delicious drinks, and who knows what else.  Then it was time to get ready.  I love getting all dressed up; maybe this is because we really don't get a chance to dress up after we are seniors in high school...unless we are going to a wedding or something.  So Dan and me had finished getting ready early so we went down to the bar to get a drink before dinner.  He asked me if I wanted to go to the front of the boat to get some air.  I suggested that since it was close to dinner time that we just go on the side of the boat; we were almost at the back.  So we went outside to get some fresh air and enjoy each others company.  However, we had walked out on the smoking side of the boat and cigarette smoke really grosses me out (this is another post entirely), so we walked to the other side of the boat.  This is when it happens....Dan starts his speech....talking about how he had something of his grandmothers to give me...and that I could only get it on one condition.....then he got down on one knee......my heart stopped.....I began to shake.....and he asked me....Will You Marry Me????  I was in such shock that I forgot to respond at first, and of course I can't cry because I have no tears.  I can only imagine what those seconds felt like to him...anticipating my response...not seeing any reaction one way or the other.  Finally, I remembered to say YES! 

Once we had come back to reality I had to go tell my parents.  They knew that Dan would propose to me because he had asked them before hand.  My parents and his parents were the only ones who knew though.  So telling everyone was soooo exciting.  We announced it at dinner that night.  Now the cruise was not only a celebration of me graduating, it was a celebration of Dan and me.

We did many things on the cruise.  We went snorkling, went on a high ropes course, toured a couple islands, played lots of roulette, saw an ice show, and a few other things.  It was an amazing vacation!! We were all in need of a break; from work, from school, from cancer. 

Things could not be going more right.  But like I have said in previous posts, all vacations must come to an end, and the real world sucks sometimes.  I can't wait to go on my next cruise though!!