Just Engaged (and now bragging about it)

Just want to officially announce that I got engaged this past weekend to my wonderful girlfriend of 10 years, Leanne. To be more specific: at Genesee Beach in Atlantic Beach, NY on Friday, July 1, 2011 (7/1/11) at around 6-7 p.m.

Here's the story. Leanne is from Syracuse and I'm from Atlantic Beach / Long Beach. We met while attending the University at Albany (State Quad baby!). The summer after our freshman year, I was life-guarding in Atlantic Beach and she was teaching cheer-leading for UCA (toured east coast). The one location where her and I were close enough to "hang out" was near Albany, so I decided to pick her up there after her cheer-leading camp. I drove for at least 10 hours that day; all to be with my love.

Upon arrival in Atlantic Beach, I was so excited to show her around. I took her to my job location...Genesee Beach. We walked into the dunes, I put a blanket down, opened up a bottle of wine, and we watched the sunset. It was beautiful. But for the details, I'll stop there. What you should know is that a few days later, Leanne and I were officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

Fast forward a few apartments, job changes, quarrels, and many meals to July 1, 2011. We've been going out for 10 years. I arranged to stay at my buddy Sloan's place for the holiday weekend. Within an hour or so of arriving at his place, he let me borrow his Audi S4 (ridiculous car) to take Leanne to Genesee Beach to enjoy a bottle of wine (as we've been accustomed to doing).

It's almost 10 years to the day, full circle, that we're doing the same thing at the same spot. We walk into the dunes. I lay down a blanket. I take out a bottle of Moet Imperial [in an insulated case] and ask Leanne to open it. As she's doing so, I reach into my bag and grab the ring box. I start my speech. I ask her to marry me while opening the box to reveal her ring. She's stunned and asks if I'm kidding. I said, "no." She's speechless. I'm still on my knee. She finally says, "Yes." Tears of happiness.

We enjoy every minute moving forward...plus a nice cold bottle of Moet. Couldn't have asked for better weather. God must have approved, because he threw down sun rays at a perfect time.

Here's a picture about 30 minutes into our engagement.

Leanne and Mark [me]