Perry did a GREAT job of throwing me off of the "scent" per se over the last couple of months. He had everyone involved too – thanks guys. Well, my sorority sister Gwendolyn was getting married on March 22nd so when I realized that it was also Easter and our anniversary weekend I was excited to travel! So we drove down for the QUICK weekend of events and I will start by saying it was the most emotional weekend in a long time – I cried the entire time... Friday afternoon, I went shopping with Perry's sister Kimberly and niece Camille and Shaun (Kim's BFF). Both of them are married with a little one so without realizing it, I was affected by the "single syndrome" that evening. Then I had plans to attend dinner with my girl friends Brandi, Rose, and Luciana and I again was sad; so I semi-vented to – of course – Perry about wanting the "family" one day. So here we are Saturday going to a wedding – which I must mention was beautiful – and it had me all over the place emotionally because I was so happy for Gwen but longed for that myself. Perry didn't make that day any easier because he was being – well PERRY! LOL (You'd have to ask him what he did that day)

We left the reception early to celebrate our anniversary at Cajun's Wharf – the same restaurant where we met three years earlier. Again Perry sped to the restaurant and once we arrived, the hostess immediately asked if we were ready to go to the back - Perry said no but jumped on the phone. I thought "oh no, he is going to have a surprise anniversary party or something" so I went to the ladies room to freshen up. Finally Perry says we can go to the back and the hostess seats us at a table set for four. I asked P "who's coming to dinner?" and he gives me a blank shoulder shrug "I don't know" answer. So we sit, order drinks and appetizers and talk a little when I ask again "alright – who's coming" and he tells me that he thought he would invite the couple that brought us together – Ced and Rose. =) That made me happy and relaxed so we talked while we waited. Next thing I know, we are talking about marriage and Perry is telling me how he will propose when he feels the time is right. I guess my face showed my distaste for that answer because when he asked me if I thought that he was wasting my time, I cried AGAIN and said I really hoped not! By then, I was thinking that a proposal was far-fetched so I began gulping my wine! LOL

Rose and Ced walked up and we all started talking and laughing. Ced and Perry wasted no time to ask me a million questions about nothing! I asked them "what is this – 21 questions about Holly? Rose is sitting right here!" They laughed at me but then the conversation turned to marriage. It was when Perry said "Holly isn't ready" and I did an exorcist head-rotation to look at him with "WHO" written all over my face, that the questions got faster and harder.

Ced started by asking if I would "wear a ring pop?" and I said that "if it didn't melt or I didn't eat it first – yes". Then they asked me about other types of rings and I said "ok... yea... yes" when Perry said "what if that was all I could afford, would you wear it" and I said "YES". Then he said "Well would you wear this one?" And I looked down to see a beautiful diamond ring in his hand and I IMMEDIATELY began to cry. And I'm talking crocodile, taking candy from a 2 year old, sick with the flu runny nose type of tears. I buried my head in my hands and missed the actual "Will you marry me?" that Perry was saying but I finally lifted my head to say "YES"!!!

Between tears Perry told me to look back only to see his sister Kim and her husband Jerald at another table waving at me. I was so surprised because it was also Kim and Jerald's 5 year wedding anniversary that day so I just knew that they were out celebrating but everyone was in on it! His proposal was beautiful and I was surprised and I loved it. It represented everything I have felt with Perry over the last three years –moments of frustration, anxiety, laughter, tears, and sheer, unadulterated true happiness & joy – beyond what words can explain. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Please see the pictures from the proposal (thank you Ced) in the Photo Album – proposal tab.