Best way to propose? :D

[jim stone]

Here's how I got married.
I had a sabbatical so my girlfriend
and I went to Tucson AZ to study
in the philosophy department.
I was 46, she was 23, and
it was going to look really
weird unless we were married--
in which case it might look
cute (or anyhow less weird).

So we went down to Tucson City Hall
to inquire about marriage
licenses, just wanted to
get some info, you see.
'We'll give you one right
now!' they said, slapping
it on the counter. 'And if
you go across the hall,
we'll marry you, too.'

So we went across the hall.
There was a line of people,
mostly Hispanic,
waiting to see the justice
of the peace. We filled
out the license, but we needed
a witness. I asked the young
woman behind us if she would
be our witness.

'Yes,' she said. 'But let me
get married first, so I can
sign my married name.'

So we let her and her boyfriend
go first. Then we went in.
The justice of the peace
was a nice little man who appeared
to be having a great time marrying
people. He said some sensible things, and we were
married, Yolanda (the Hispanic
lady) signed the license.

KO and I were in flip-flops
and shorts, it was utterly
painless.

That was 18 years
ago, and I would recommend it.
Seems to have worked fine.
The only problem is that
I married Yolanda. She signed
her name on the wrong place
on the license, you see.
That makes Yolanda a polyandrist,
I believe. Occasionally I
call KO 'Yolanda,' just
so nobody will give us
any trouble.

[Cubitt]

When she cries and hugs you and says this is the happiest day of her life, please, PLEASE don't reply, "Yeah, the folks down at the Chiff & Fipple thought you'd like it." We want a wedding, not a funeral.

Good luck!

[Brian Lee]

LOL! Yeah, probably best not to risk being thrown over the railing - at night - from a lighthouse - into the cold November Chesapeake! hehehe

[dwest]

A friend of mine spent two hours in the Bay in Maryland in early December 1993 when the boat he was on sank. A most unpleasant experience. The water was quite cold.

[Brian Lee]

Well - after talking with my Aunt this afternoon who volunteers at the light regularly, it seems that in the winter months, it's just too cold and they usually close the place up rather tight. So it will likely have to be on the grounds and not up in the light itself (what says love more than a huge light bulb and a wicked cool round double inverted Fresnel prism to focus it?!)

Ah well...

Plan B may not have quite the "illumination" of the original...but I think she'll be equally thrilled.

[avanutria]

Aw, can't they make an exception? Surely the lighthouse manager is a romantic.

[Brian Lee]

I dunno - if it's as cold as they say (which is very likely true), it may make the whole proposal so uncomfortable as to be negative. Not really the vibe I was hopin for!

[anniemcu]

"Best way to propose?"

Sincerely. Anything that doesn't detract from that is a good way to go.

[Infernaltootler]

What do you mean, they close the lighthouse? How hard could it be to get the key out? Get some back bone, get the thing opened, surely your girlfriend will appreciate the trouble you have gone to so much more.

Can't tell you how my husband proposed, it is so rude and shocking I am saving it until I am a crusty old grandma at a huge family gathering so that it stuns the audience to hear a dear little old lady utter such filth.

[avanutria]

I dunno - if it's as cold as they say (which is very likely true), it may make the whole proposal so uncomfortable as to be negative. Not really the vibe I was hopin for!

Bring gloves and those instant heat pack things. If the view is impressive and she likes it there, it'll be worth it. On the other hand, if the lighthouse is special to YOU and not to her, maybe you need to find a spot special to her, or one that can become special to both of you (without involving frostbite).

[anniemcu]

I dunno - if it's as cold as they say (which is very likely true), it may make the whole proposal so uncomfortable as to be negative. Not really the vibe I was hopin for!

Bring gloves and those instant heat pack things. If the view is impressive and she likes it there, it'll be worth it. On the other hand, if the lighthouse is special to YOU and not to her, maybe you need to find a spot special to her, or one that can become special to both of you (without involving frostbite).

... and a small thermos of something warm and tasty!

[Infernaltootler]

Don't give up on the lighthouse, it's far too phallic to miss the opportunity, I'm sure your girlfriend will get the reference.

[ketida]

Having lived in the area many years (my avatar is a photo taken mere yards from the lighthouse) I can attest that Thanksgiving is very unpredictable, weatherwise. Still, I'd suggest trying to use the lighthouse as your backdrop, if possible, but be prepared for uncomfortable weather. (You'll at least be out of the wind/rain/snow for the proposal, even if the weather is at its worst. And you won't have to walk very far to get inside, either. Cozy!)
Best wishes!

[talasiga]

@jim stone
you couldn't have done that in Australia jim.
not without special dispensation from the local court.
Here, you need to both give statutory 1 month's notice of INTENTION to marry.
both of you would have to make witnessed declarations of intention
and only after the passing of at least 1 month could the marriage occur.

The UsA is pretty slick regarding marriages it seems.

[Brian Lee]

Having lived in the area many years (my avatar is a photo taken mere yards from the lighthouse) I can attest that Thanksgiving is very unpredictable, weatherwise. Still, I'd suggest trying to use the lighthouse as your backdrop, if possible, but be prepared for uncomfortable weather. (You'll at least be out of the wind/rain/snow for the proposal, even if the weather is at its worst. And you won't have to walk very far to get inside, either. Cozy!)
Best wishes!

I know those boards. And I've been in Havre de Grace most of my life (well, visited often anyway...sometimes for months at a go) so I know the weather there can change on a dime. Thanksgiving two years back was actually quite mild considering, but regardless, November, at night, on the water will be chilly.

I think we'll just be *by* the light, instead of up in it. It's less hassle both with dark stairways and ladders (not to mention the crazy spiders!) and with the light house association. I'm sure it'll go well regardless.

Ah amoré! hehehe