It was one of life's great coincidences when we met. I was having dinner at a quaint little bar / restaurant in Buenos Aires when I overheard a girl a few seats down speaking English in a very non-Spanish accent. After striking up some small talk I asked where she was from and imagine my surprise when she said, "Germany, but I live in Raleigh, NC." So there we both were, 5000 miles from home on the other side of the planet, having dinner at the same place, at the same time, in a city the size of Chicago, when we both lived 10 minutes away from each other back in NC. Little did we know it was the start to the rest of our lives together.

It was 2pm on St. Patrick's Day and I was waiting for BJ to come home so we could have lunch and meet up with our friends to celebrate. I know that when BJ gets overly hungry he can get grumpy. So when he finally returned I was ready to go and said: "I know you must be starving. Let's go! I'll invite you for Mexican." He said: "Yes, let's go! but he took my hand and slowly led me to the living room instead, set me down on the couch never letting my hand go. He told me how much he loved me and he sounded so serious. I must have looked worried so what he said next left me breathless and it took me a moment to process that he had just asked me to become his wife and that he was waiting for a reply. Of course I said YES and his smile in response told me how happy my answer made him.

It was a bright and sunny Saturday. St. Patrick's Day. A couple of weeks prior I had been sneaking off to the jewelry shop after work looking for an engagement ring. I had finally found the perfect one and the shop was getting it prepared for me. They had told me it would be 10 days before it was ready so I started formulating the most clever, memorable proposal ever. I had it all worked out: I would wake up early and prepare a massive breakfast. I would put it all on a silver tray - plates, cups, bowls full of eggs, fruit, cheese. The works! Finally there would be a small plate with a lid on it that would be "breakfast dessert." Johanna would open the lid and the ring would be on the plate. I'd hop out of bed and surprise her with the proposal. It would be perfect! Que St. Patrick's Day morning. We're getting ready to go out and meet some friends for green beer fun when I get a phone call from the jeweler - the ring is ready early! So I tell Johanna I have to run out to pick up some last minute supplies. I dash off and pick up the ring. All the way planning my perfect proposal for the next morning. When I finally get back home I'm bursting with excitement and anticipation. I can't hold it in. There's no way I can go out all day with this ring it my pocket. It will drive me crazy. So me being the impulsive person I am, walk in the door, grab Johanna's hand, lead her to the couch and ask her to sit down. I start explaining how much I love her and how I would do anything for her. I started to ramble off course and I could tell she was getting nervous by my serious tone. So I just dropped down to one knee, pulled out the ring, and blurted "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" So it didn't go exactly according to plan, or even generally according to plan. In fact I bumbled the whole thing pretty badly. But thankfully she said yes!