Back at Christmas, I had booked us a two-night stay in a Yurt in Chatham (near Jackson/Conway), New Hampshire for Chris. We had missed our typical traveling so much over the year! And Chris was such a supporter of me over all the changes in 2020. I wanted us to have a fun getaway, that was in-state and therefore could happen even with restrictions, and that was isolated enough that we could "forget" about the pandemic.
The yurt was incredible. We snow-shoed in with our stuff, about a mile from where we parked the car. The yurt had plenty of room and a woodstove for heat. Bear came with us, and was just living his best life. Going outside whenever he wanted! Running around without a leash! Spending the whole day with both of us! He's such a mountain dog.
We arrived on Thursday night, and spent Friday morning snuggled up reading and drinking coffee. Later on, we pulled on our gear and went snow shoeing on all the snow mobile trails that crossed the property. On the way back, we stopped at a clearing where we could see the mountains in the distance. After a beer, and a PB & J, Chris proposed! It was the sweetest. I was so surprised, and honestly wasn't even processing what was happening. My only regret was not being giddier while it was happening! But I was plenty giddy after (and still am, tbh).
The rest of the trip was bonkers, but so worth it and a little funny in retrospect. Friday night we went out for an engagement drink. By the time we got back up to the yurt, the fire had gone out and the stove was too cold for me to get a new one going. We tried for an hour and a half but couldn't get it to start. Finally, Chris called it and we hiked back down to the car at 10pm and slept there. In the moment, I was really frustrated. But it is a hilarious story.
Saturday morning, we both were wide awake at 5am (the car isn't the most comfortable, after all). We drove to a Dunkin Donuts and then drive all around watching the sunrise over the mountains. We ran into Walmart and bought a Duraflame log, then hiked back up to our yurt and started the woodstove. We snow shoed a bit more, packed up, and had some time to just enjoy the yurt for the last few hours. We stopped for a fun lunch on the way home, and had a great, talkative drive.
I was completely surprised. We've talked about it a lot, obviously, and I knew it was going to happen at some point this year. But I definitely wasn't expecting it this early, or on that particular trip. I didn't even know he had a ring, and for whatever reason, I thought I would just know when he had one. It was the best surprise!
Ecstatic doesn't really cut it. I am so excited for this, and for us! This feels like the perfect timing. I love the time and experiences we've had together so far, and they give me confidence that we will be able to continue to grow together. And I love that we aren't waiting, just because we're relatively young. I am so excited to get to start this phase of our relationship.
I also just feel...different? Like much more grown-up. And much more motivated to get back to working on building the life I really want, and "correcting" the parts of myself that I feel like are just a little immature. I feel responsible for something incredible fragile, and important. If I'm going to be a married person, I want to put in the work to make sure I'm bringing a solid, mature, and less chaotic version of myself to it.
Chris put it really well. He said, "It feels like one less part of life that's abstract." YES! It's not a someday anymore, we are really doing this! We are really showing up and doing the things.
I love you Chris! Are we really doing this? Just wow!!
