83 hours, 4 minutes, and a handful of seconds until Jayme finishes up her conference and I propose marriage to her. Rarely do you see it written that way. Literally what I am doing is asking Jayme if she liked the idea of marrying me. Kind of a daunting question to ask a person when you are looking for an immediate answer. So I think it is safe to assume that she has been thinking about it, not just the abstract idea of marriage and being together for forever, but the actuality of it.

We are talking decades of existence, spending almost everyday with the same person. And depending who that person is, it can be the most exhilarating feeling. I feel like I am on the edge of a ledge, looking down at all these small figures that I can barely make out. They are kids, a dog, family reunions, building a house, a wedding… These things are mostly linked to this next step, the step that is now 5 minutes closer. The step that is done on one knee and with shaking hands. And while I can see over the ledge, I still have a few last things to tie-up before I can take the plunge.

Sure there are details to address, but the one I am referring to is talking with Jayme’s parents and seeing how they feel about me becoming a permanent fixture in their family. I already am in a family picture that is hanging, so I feel pretty good that I will get a positive response. I have been wanting to do this for a few weeks now, but the fact that me and Jayme do almost everything together and I cannot come up with a lie that is plausible and could give me a few hours to drive to her hometown has meant it kept getting pushed back. I was hoping to get a chance this last weekend when we were at her parents place for Easter celebration, but there was never a moment that wouldn’t be rushing it. So I will have to settle for a FaceTime call. So when Jayme leaves for her trip, the first thing I will is talk with the two people who raised this wonderful woman I cannot wait to ask to be my wife.