September 23rd, 1995 was the most wonderful day of my life.
This past weekend I had the opportunity I had dreamed about all my life. Asking that one simple question, flowing from my whole heart and soul, to the woman I love...
It began about three months ago. My girlfriend Christine (whom I met about 3 years ago, and dated exclusively for about 2 years) and I knew how much we were in love with each other. I have waited my whole life for a woman like her. She is my first girlfriend. The first person I fell in love with. She just has all the qualities that make a woman beautiful. *smile*
I wanted to propose to her. I had prayed and thought about it and felt the timing was right and our relationship was at that level. I told my parents while on vacation in July I would be talking to her parents soon. They were very happy for me! (I ended up talking to her parents in late August. I was kinda nervous but it went so well and they told me that couldn't have chosen a better guy to love and care for their daughter!)
I started formulating an engagement plan in my head from then on. The hardest decision I had to make was to propose to her with just us two there in a nice, secluded romantic spot or do something in a public arena, in front of a crowd, with close friends and family there. I choose the later. Christine and I are close to our families, and I wanted them involved. Her love for sports provided the vehicle our engagement bandwagon would ride on...
Over the next two months with lotsa prayer and work my plans came together to be executed on the night of Saturday Sept 23, 1995..
The night of Wednesday Sept 20 I told Christine that my brother (John) had gotten free tickets to the Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. He was going to take my sister Lynne, and Christine and I. She was excited to go. She grew up in Phila when she was young and both my family and her family are from there. Her 'dream job' was to be a ballgirl for the Phillies!
On Sat we drove up to Philadelphia leaving Northern Virginia around 3pm. The night before Christine was giving me a VERY hard time about not wanting to leave earlier on Sat so we could see her cousins and my grandparents. ACK! I was caught offguard. We couldn't leave earlier and couldn't see ANYONE because of the surprise! I finally convinced her...though I think she was still a little bit upset (just wait till Sat night honey I kept thinking!!!)
We arrived at Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia around 530pm. We had a little picnic in the parking lot..and went into the stadium. Our seats were pretty good. Section 248 down the left field foul line. A really nice night there. About 65 degrees and clear sky. EVERYONE who knew about it was praying for good weather!! Of course, I was pretty nervous all day. That morning I got up around 8am and couldn't get back to sleep cause of the butterflies in my stomach!! Now, in the stadium, I was beginning to get the butterflies again! After 4 innings would be the big moment!
Around the middle of the third inning...I'm trying to keep my cool. Acting like nothing is going on. John and Lynne are playing it up SO GOOD! They know the plans and Christine has NO CLUE!!! I know I'm starting to get nervous. My knee and foot start beating up and down. That's not too unusual..it kinda chilly in the stadium too..and I do it often. Christine notices me..and my bouncing foot..and tells Lynne that I often do that when we talk about marriage, rings, engagement etc. *blush* LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW WHAT I AM THINKING!!!
So..the end of the 4th inning begins to roll around. A cameraman and his assistant walk near us...Christine notices..and wants him to turn around so she can be on camera (she's such a flirt!) *grin* Well..the end of the 4th inning comes up. I have my arm around Christine. Lynne, who is sitting next to Christine, secretly put the ring into my hand behind Christine's seat while Christine notices nothing. The camera guy then turns around..and points the camera to us. I look up at the big screen TV and see us on the screen. THAT'S MY CUE! I get up out of my seat..and grab her hands to lift her up out of her seat. She is thinking.."oh, we're going to say 'hi mom!' on the TV camera!" (she told me that later that that is what she was thinking.) I take her into the aisle, then get down on one knee. HER JAW JUST TOTALLY DROPPED because she knew at that moment what was going to happen. Her face just lit up like the sun, with a WIDED-EYED gaze of surprise, shock, and joy. I began talking to her...saying something like what I wrote in my first message "I'm asking the Princess to marry me tomorrow!" I had the themes I wanted to cover...but I didn't memorize the following...and didn't say exactly what the following says...
"Christine, you are the most radiant woman that I could have ever hoped to dream of for my life. Your heart sparkles like the sun, with the touch of the Creator's hand. The joy and love you have brought into my life overwhelms me with tears of happiness. I have humbly asked first God, then your parents, for your hand. Now I ask you for your heart..."
As I spoke my words...the whole crowd gathered around us..and were starting to cheer and chant "YES YES YES YES YES" It was incredible!!! I finally opened the ring box, and showed her the ring. I asked her "Christine Anne McCloskey, will you marry me?" She said..."YES!!" I put the ring on her finger..and hugged her and kissed her forehead. She was still in shock and overwhelmed at the same time. She was UTTERLY SURPRISED! She told me later..she didn't even remember what I said to her!!!! *laugh*
The crowd is still cheering...every one is congratulating us. We hug my brother and sister. We hug and kiss each other. Just standing there. The camera guy is still recording..but only about 20 seconds of it were shown on the big screen, along with a message that said "Derek Wojciech is now proposing to Christine McCloskey!" She is still overwhelmed. She started getting teary eyed but is still in joyful shock! Lynne comes up to her and says 'let me see the ring!' (I didn't show anyone it beforehand.) And Christine goes 'oh yeah..the ring.' She didn't even look at it yet! *smile*
We sit in our seats..and I have a special present for her (us.) Lynne pulls out of her purse two Philadelphia Phillies jerseys. One for me and one for Christine. I had them printed to say on mine the name "JUST" and the number "9-23". On Christine's it said "ENGAGED" and "95" EVERYONE LOVED THEM!! (see the pictures on my web page!)
I then tell Christine that the Phillies have a special present for us we have to go get it. We walk way up to the 700 level section...hand in hand. Both totally enjoying the moment. Everywhere we walk around the stadium people are saying 'congratulations!' to us. It was so neat! Then as we arrive up on the 700 level concourse, we round the corner...SURPRISE! A group of about 30 people..all our immediate family, close cousins, and friends are waiting there for us! I had sent tickets to each of mine and Christine's family and close friends so they could be there to enjoy the moment with us!!! Christine was again UTTERLY SURPRISED!!! Everyone was there hugging and taking pictures. Balloons, flowers, posters! WOW! It was a moment to treasure! Christine couldn't believe it! Our families both drove up from Virginia earlier in the day..without Christine knowing and were now there to enjoy this occasion with us! A bunch of our relatives from Phila were there also! We took pictures, video, talked for over an hour. They all loved the Phillies jerseys!
Finally, after lotsa hugs and congratulations we say our goodbyes and head for home. I made plans so Christine and I could drive back alone. What a time! As we started back I had one more surprise for her. She opened the package and it was a CD single of the song 'I can love you like that' by All-4-One. That is my theme song to Christine. I want to love her like that every day for the rest of our lives!!! Of course the WHOLE trip home (3 hrs) she made me tell her ALL the details from start to finish about how the whole things was planned, who knew what, when I did this and that etc.
Arriving at her house, we were physically drained but on a total emotional high!!! We talked and just were so excited to finally be engaged. I kept saying to her over and over 'You're my fiancee!' It was wonderful. I left her so we could get some sleep...to go to my house and dream of her. Then I said to myself I didn't need to dream...because I already lived my dream that day....*smile*
Derek
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