How We Met
Quintin and I met in college. He was captain of the rugby team, and as such, the responsibility to throw regular house parties and maintain the team’s active social calendar fell on his shoulders. One night, the rugby team had a mixer with the women’s equestrian team. Spurred by Tuesday night boredom, my friend and I decided to crash the mixer. Who needed to know that I had never been near a horse in my life? Quintin found me in his kitchen and called my bluff right almost immediately and I spent the rest of the night laughing trying to gracefully devise a way to explain my presence.
I failed to explain myself, but found my best friend and love of my life. Fast forward to present day, we have endured several years of a long distance relationship and are happily living together in San Diego with our puppy (who acts like she’s Beyonce) named Moose. Despite his own taxing career as an engineer, Quintin has supported me through three long years of law school, and the ultimate test–the California bar exam. To celebrate my freedom, we planned a trip to Italy. I never could have imagined what kind of souvenirs I would take home with me…
how they asked
On our second night in Venice, Quintin told me he had planned a gondola ride followed by a fancy dinner. Quintin has a history of romantic surprises, so I didn’t think anything too unusual was in the works. When we stepped aboard the gondola, another woman was seated at the opposite side. She was speaking Italian, and I just assumed she was supposed to be there. As obvious as this all seems in hindsight, at the time I was completely oblivious. However, when we pushed off the dock, the woman sitting across from me pulled out a camera and began shooting. When I turned to look at Quintin, he was getting down on one knee, which (as he explained later) is no easy task while on a narrow, quickly moving gondola.
He told me how much he loved me and pulled out a ring.
It all hit me at once, and the waterworks followed suit. He barely was able to utter the question before I grabbed him by the cheeks and kissed him. The rest of the night, as well as the entire trip, felt like a dream. Quintin added to the surprise by arranging photographers to take engagement photos in both Rome and Positano.
While we got stuck in a downpour in Rome just as the session began, we both had so much fun hiding under the umbrella, floating through the streets of Rome together. I feel so incredibly blessed to have found my person in life.
Beyond that, I can’t even begin to give him enough praise for this beautiful proposal–I could not have dreamed up a more perfect way to begin the next phase of our lives together. Thank you for sharing this adventure with me Quintin, I am so excited to see what the future has in store for us.
