Three-Year Anniversary

Two weeks after we first met

One year anniversary in Port Renfrew, B.C.

Washington Square Park, NYC, July 2013

Amsterdam, May 2014

“For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home."

This is love

A heart-shaped meadow, created by a farmer as a tribute to his late wife, can be seen from the air near Wickwar, South Gloucestershire, England. The point of the heart points towards Wotton Hill, where his wife was born.

Something Crazy Happened

JOSH PROPOSED ON MONDAY!

It was such a normal day. I went to work, walked home, got a text from Stacey saying that she and Alex couldn't make it to pub trivia. So Josh suggested we have a date night and see The Great Gatsby. He said it was playing at the same theater we had our first date at, so I asked if we could go to the restaurant we had our first date at, Flowers. But he was like, "nahhh," which was very irregular... He's a very "go-with-the-flow" kind of person. So we went to Chipotle instead. Which we love, so it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. 

After dinner, we started walking up the street to theater, and we passed Flowers. I looked in the window, because they have huge windows facing the street, and saw a lot of familiar faces, and balloons... "Josh..." I said. He tried to distract me, but it was too late. I thought that it was a going-away party, but all of the sudden, Josh got down on one knee, right their on the sidewalk, with passers-by watching. I started crying. I was completely shocked. Just earlier that day, I had been thinking that I would probably have to wait until next summer to get engaged because we were so busy. But no. Josh had a speech, but I can't really remember it. I even asked him to repeat it, but it's still all a blur. When I said yes, people on the street cheered. 

Leslie took the pictures above. We went into Flowers, where our good friends were waiting for us. Champagne was on the house. Stacey bought a coconut cream pie from our favorite pie shop. 

My ring: Was made by Moorea! I started crying all over again when she told me. It's an emerald cut diamond with a rose gold band. I love it so much. It's totally my style and it's even more special because my best friend created it.

So that's our story. Oh! Josh was going to propose in the theater, but because I saw everyone, he said "to hell with it" and did it right there. I'm so impressed with him. He's an amazing fiance. Ahhh!

yuanfen

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Sometimes this is the hardest thing to do.

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A Message to my Younger Self

Don't wallow so much. Don't look at others and wish you had their life and their relationships. Don't think that gaining a boyfriend is the be-all-end-all. Keep watching romantic movies. Keep reading love stories. Keep listening to love songs. Because you will have what they talk about in the love songs someday. Just be patient. I think that's the most important thing. Be patient. The wait is worth it. The self-described lonely nights are worth getting through. But also live in the moment. Go out with friends. Have adventures by yourself. Make art. And those questions you asked yourself when you got your heart broken, "will there be anyone out there that is perfect for me? that will accept me as I am? that won't treat you as if you were a perfectly normal human being?" The answer is, yes. He's out there. He's perfect for you (I mean, he loves animals as much as you do!). He is kind and loving and generous. And he thinks you're the most gorgeous effervescent being alive (I'm pretty sure that's how he'd describe me). 


{Image: Woman on park bench, NY 1957 by Yale Joel}

Port Renfrew and Victoria, B.C.

The anniversary weekend started off with two dozen roses from the boy. 

We took an early ferry from Anacortes to Sidney, B.C.

We had lunch in Victoria at Pig, a great BBQ place.

The surprise destination was Port Renfrew, a two hour drive from Victoria up the west coast of the island. We stayed at the amazing Soule Creek Lodge. We were their only guests that Saturday night, so we were upgraded to a nicer room. My favorite part was the bathroom. Woohoo!!!

And since we were the only guests, we basically had our own personal chef make us dinner that night. 

Some of the best salmon I've ever had, caught fresh down the road that day. Accompanied by a vanilla bean burre blanc sauce. Smashed potatoes, a few shrimp, and veggies.

A little dessert sampler platter, with house-made ice cream, cheesecake brulee, apple tart, and flourless chocolate cake. Freaking awesome.

After dinner, we watched the sun set from the hot tub :)

Port Renfrew is a beautiful area. The most amazing place in my opinion was Botanical Beach. The tidepools are some of the best I've ever seen. We were hoping to spy a baby seal, but no luck. I did see an otter from far off, which was pretty exciting.

Conquering the tidepools!

Lunch at the Port Renfrew Hotel restaurant. Great view and a few bald eagles soaring around. 

Half crab! Noms!

This guy is such a keeper.

Back to the wilderness... We tried a trail called Mill Bay Trail, but it was overgrown AND we saw super fresh bear tracks on the trail so I started getting a panic attack and we had to turn around :D

So we went to Botany Bay. More ocean views and pretty scenery.

Sweet potato fries at Coastal Kitchen.

You know how to spend a sexy night with your boyfriend? Play Trivial Pursuit! I WON.

Yesterday we headed back to Victoria and spent a couple hours there before catching a ferry. We waited in a half-hour long line to get some grub at Red Fish Blue Fish. Popular for a good reason. 

Joshua, Joshua

Dedicated to my man.

Learning to Love You More

Artist/actress/writer/filmmaker/awesome person Miranda July has a website called Learning to Love You More, which houses 70 assignments intended to guide people towards their own experience.

A few examples of assignments are: Make a child's outfit in an adult size. Start a lecture series. Recreate 3 minutes of a Fresh Air interview. Make a flier of your day. Photograph a scar and write about it. Write your life story in less than a day.

My friend Danielle has done #65: Perform the phone call someone else wished they could have.

These assignments sound exciting, inspiring, fun, and funny, and I can't wait to complete a few. I might even share them on my blog!

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An Exercise in Love

My friend wears my scarf at his waist
I give him moonstones
He gives me shell & seaweeds
He comes from a distant city & I meet him
We will plant eggplants & celery together
He weaves me cloth

----- Many have brought the gifts
----- I use for his pleasure
----- silk, & green hills
----- & heron the color of dawn

My friend walks soft as a weaving on the wind
He backlights my dreams
He has built altars beside my bed
I awake in the smell of his hair & cannot remember
his name, or my own.


BY DIANE DI PRIMA

for Jackson Allen

Why I love him

When I'm having a bad day, Josh will try to cheer me up by sending me pictures like this:

And that is why I love him.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just a few images from my favorite love stories.