Do you ever find yourself in a strange or unfamiliar environment, where the only thing you hope for is to see a familiar face?
The year is 2005, and the first day of class for Psychology 1100 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Brendan enters the classroom and spots Carly out of the crowd of strangers, remembering that her pretty face was 1 of the 276 graduating class of 2003, from South Delta Secondary School. Despite knowing that she had a boyfriend, Brendan persisted to unleash his irresistible charm during class breaks. Fast forward to Christmas break 2005, while attending a movie premier in downtown Vancouver, it was brought to Brendan's attention that Carly was newly single. Just his luck, Carly just happened to be there!
Knees-a-shaking, palms-a-sweating, pen and napkin in hand, Brendan unleashed the ever so James Bond whit: "Carly?.......ca...can....er.....um.......can I get your phone number?" To the response that guaranteed their fate under the alter: "Uh.....yes.......but please do not call me."
He obviously did not listen.
Enter February 2012, the season of romance in south western British Columbia. There cannot be a more appropriate environment to decide who to spend the rest of your life with than rain, gail force wind warnings and delayed ferries.
Brendan contemplated for a very long time where he should propose. He knew that Carly loved her daily ritual of drinking tea, yet she had never had a formal high tea. It was the time of year when they needed a holiday, and where better to experience high tea than their provincial capital?
After a stormy ferry ride over to Victoria, Brendan surprised Carly with a reservation at the Empress Hotel for high tea. Brendan said he had to "go to the bathroom," before the tasty finger sandwiches and treats arrived. In reality, he had entrusted the serving staff to put the engagement box on the serving tray. After the tray arrived, Brendan, with shaking knees, sweaty palms, engagement box in hand, said, "Carly Ann Swift, will you marry me?" And lucky for him, her response was far more concrete this time. "Of course!" she said.
