gush.

He stopped for ice, brought over coffee filters, smiled and said, "How are you?" I felt my nerves calm.

I started to babble: I’ve been out all day getting wine, food, last minute things, I haven’t even showered, I’m a mess.  I just vaccuumed, though.  That’s a step.

He assured me everything would be wonderful and told me to go take a shower and get ready.  He could handle it.

I opened the bathroom door twice to yell out things I forgot to do before jumping in and frantically scrubbing so I could pop out quickly before I forgot this and that.

I got out and he had let my mother in, they got to work putting together the wonderful spread that we ate that evening.  My mother and my boyfriend, chopping, arranging, discussing the best course of action for appetizers in the oven.  It was a sight to behold.

I dressed and applied my make-up and threw some gel stuff in my hair, (that didn’t work, by the way.  I looked like a lion.)  I emerged and got to work myself. 

The first to arrive were Keith’s mom, aunt, and niece.  The baby showed me her "party outfit" and how it was all pink.  She gave her Uncle Keith a hug and I handed her my lite-brite so she could amuse herself.  Yes, I’m 25 years old.  Yes, I have a lite-brite. 

I poured wine and set plates out on the table, I hugged, I toured, I ran down to the front door a few times to pick up more guests.  All the while my man played host, saying things like, "Oh yes, we thought the tv should go on this wall."  It sounded like he lived there.  I liked it. 

We showed one of my aunts around and ended up at my office.  "Oh my, how lovely…… that’s a whole load of wedding magazines…"  And she turned to us and raised an eyebrow.  "I’m a wedding planner!  I am!" 

Everyone has been waiting for an announcement.  I didn’t know they were.  My mother, his mother, my aunts, his aunt, my friends.  They’ve all asked me in the last few days when we’d be getting engaged.  I have no idea what the sudden spike in curiosity is.  I assume our mothers have been chatting with others, giving them an idea that it might be coming soon.

The last guest left.  We washed dishes, cleared the table, put tiny foods in bags and froze them.

I turned to him and said thank you.  Thank you for being wonderful and lovely and the best boyfriend ever.  Everyone loves you and I love you and you’re just the best.

He took my face in his hands and said "I love you too.  You’re welcome" and kissed me. 

How did I get so lucky?