April 29, 2010
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A Decent Proposal
So having got back together with Joanne, there were a few things that needed to be done. I had been officially introduced to the parents when I invited them to dinner at a vegetarian restaurant close to her home, but being the traditional sort of chap that I am, I wanted to ask her father’s permission before popping the question.
So over Chinese New Year, I bought the traditional gift of fruit, and the not so traditional gift of Melkterts – direct from Frankies, who was kind enough to make a batch just for me. It was raining a little as I rode the Suzuki to the opposite side of Taipei so I kept a change of clothes inside the helmet compartment. I was seriously nervous as I got to the gas station close to Joanne’s home, where I quickly changed. Looking good though, I rode the last few hundred metres and knocked on the door.
I handed over the gifts, and we immediately ate dinner, her mother making pretty much everything vegetarian. The talk was ok, where I got in to trouble with Chinese, Joanne helped me out, but my head was only on what was to come, and how I was going to handle it, and what would be my reaction if her father said no.
I was not allowed to help out in the kitchen afterwards – shown instead to the living area, where I was admiring the 2 bikes inside. Her father, an avid biker, rides for 2 hours, and then spends 3 hours cleaning the bikes, so they were sparkling. A little talk about the bikes, giving me a little time to work the spiel, and get the right opportunity to get the topic of conversation to the one I wanted. And then I just bit the bullet.
“Do you mind if I ask you something?” I said, but getting the Chinese all wrong. Not the best start.
Joanne asked me if I wanted her help. I said I had to do this on my own. She was smiling, almost giggling. Great… fill me with confidence!
I mentioned that in an ideal world, Joanne would not be dating a westerner, but that I love her. And I could see that she loves me, and that we are so good together. Gauging that he agreed with me – and he interrupted me a couple of times to give his opinion on this as well – I asked him… may I marry your daughter?
“I knew this was coming,” he said. Oh dear… could this be a no? But he was smiling in a genuinely warm way… “I just did not think it would be today. Welcome to the family.”
I was relieved. Joanne, standing valiantly behind her father, was relieved, smiling broadly.
I can’t remember what happened after that… I was already way too happy.
A couple of days later, we were on the way to the Philippines – Boracay Island – for a couple of days of R&R. Her sister, the sister’s husband and their baby had already left Taiwan – missing the Chinese New Year party (naughty!) – and were sunning it up in Boracay too, so we were going to join up with them, although not at the same hotel.
I was riding the Skywave to the airport when I got to a traffic light and the bike stalled. It was not starting again, despite my swearing, threats of sending it to the scrap yard, and general total dissatisfaction. With a 1AM flight, arriving at 3, and then a 7 AM connection to our destination, this was not the best time to be looking for a taxi – especially adding to the fact that it was Chinese New Year. Thankfully though there was one to be found, so I dumped the bike, got in to the taxi.
“Airport”
Joanne was already in the queue for check-in as I arrived, smiling broadly. Our previous trip together had been the journey to Seoul 3 years previously, after which the relationship was over. I was not scared – just happy to get it out of the way!
We flew in, took the connecting flight from Manila, bussed it to the port, took a boat over to Boracay, and took the motorcycle taxi to the hotel. After being given the wrong directions to the hotel by the locals (yea, cheers mucker!) we found it and checked in.
My first job: clog the toilet. Thankfully it was not the one in our room, but the public one. One way to introduce yourself to the hotel staff…
“You may want to close this toilet,” I said to the receptionist as I came out, “as it’s clogged. I think the person in front of me must have rammed toilet paper down there.”
Trying hard to get out of it.
We got the room, and slept for an hour or so, the overnight flight having worn us out.
Joanne called her sister, we took a walk along the beach, met up with them, had some food, drinks, talk… as the sun began to set, we walked along the beach. Holding hands, laughing, we were having a good time, watching the boats on the ocean, being asked all the time if we want an ATV, diving, boat trip…
But there was one final surprise (at least for Joanne) – as the sun began to make its final descent, I said…
“You know, there are some traditions which need to be upheld.”
She agreed. I told her to wait, as I moved towards somewhere a little drier so I could put my stuff down. I left my things, and headed back to Joanne, a massive grin on my face. I went down on one knee – Joanne finally realised what it was about…
“I have loved you for an eternity. I will always love you,” I said. “Will you marry me?”
“OF COURSE,” came the reply. The “of course” was not because that was the answer, but it was to get me up off my knee, because I was embarrassing her. Poor girl.
As we had booked the wedding party reception location already, the question was pretty much a formality, but a man has to at least make an effort when officially getting married to the woman he loves.
That evening, and the rest of the time in Boracay, we both had unparalleled happiness in our hearts. I know, I am one hell of a lucky man.
