I WILL NEVER TRY TO GET A MAN THROUGH HIS STOMACH!- January 1989

January 1989

We saw many movies and thanks to Don - a LOT of sneaks.

Two of the best were Rain Man and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Of course, Rain Man got Best Picture!! (I was fascinated by Hoffman's portrayal of autism - who knew I'd end up working with autistic kids once again)

JANUARY 20, 1989

Keith and I were lookin’ at furniture at Town East in Mesquite. Seems like we've always liked to look/shop. Whether it's furniture, cars, antiques (developed later) etc. We've even, many times, stopped at OPEN HOUSES to look. Call it fancy window shopping.

So ANYWAY, back at Montgomery Wards, we were looking at couches and living room furniture. He was somewhat thinking about new couch and love seat/or chair for his living room. We were surprised that we were agreeing on a lot of the same decor.

After looking for a while, I said bewilderedly/unknowingly? "I wonder where we’re gonna be in 1 year?"

He didn't answer..

January ‘22 1989 - SO, I made an Italian lasagna (Mary’s recipe) dinner for Don and Keith. I sat them at the table and did a bit of a French maid bit and was making them laugh. (NOT bad, ya'll, get your mind out of the gutter.) - ha!! THE VERY Next nite THIS happened!!

JANUARY 23, 1989 - THE PROPOSAL

I honestly don't remember the order of things. Sorry Reader. I don't know if I got off work and went straight to his house, whether we went out to eat first or ANYTHING. It was a Tuesday and he had to work at midnight.

It was a very cold night and we were driving around. We starting winding through Central Park in Garland. He pulled up in a parking place where there were just a few, surviving flowers from the bitter cold. Right in front of us was a bench and Keith said "Do you want to go sit out there?" I looked at him like he was crazy and said "OH NO - it's Way too cold!"

Then Keith's right leg was shaking back and forth - kind of wagging. I said laughingly, "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

"NO."

Then he presented me with half dozen long stem red roses hidden under the car seat. I truly had NO earthly idea what he was saying or trying to do. Somewhere in all that leg swinging, he said "Will you marry me?" I can't tell you how shocked I was. Thought maybe it would happen in December, it didn't. My birthday was in 5 days - thought it might happen then. But No, Keith in his NEVER a Dull Moment /can't predict him fashion - Popped THE QUESTION - out on a cold, Wintery night on a Tuesday.

I got quiet...

ME - "Have you told anyone?" "Don or anyone?"

"No - why?" (I don't know if I asked or what started this conversation but next thing Keith said)

"It all was random." Apparently, he was driving down Garland Rd., saw North Star Florist and decided he was doing it.. That night!

I just froze and couldn't say Yes.. NOTE TO READER here - Keith says I didn't answer him, but I do remember saying something like "Promise Me, we will travel. I want to travel. It doesn't have to be fancy trips all the time or anything, but like my family did -road trips to CO and enjoying th whole family kind of stuff." He doesn't remember any of this..

Okay -I don't remember ANYTHING after that. I guess he drove me back to his house? or to my apartment? What I know for sure is I drove straight to Mom and Dad's house to tell them.

They knew something was up. They were sitting on their rust, sofa pit in the den. I stood there and said "Keith just asked me to marry him." VERY DEADPAN. They both looked excited and jumped up - then Dad said.. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." "Just give me all the tough questions. And then for the next hour or so, they did. We talked about religion, politics, different scenarios and how we handled them. I just knew that both Mary and Bryant had been divorced and I was not gonna let that happen to us.

Later, Keith called about 11 or so at Mom and Dad's house, and well -- I had the wedding all planned out! He said "Well, then is your answer Yes?" I was really excited and said "OH Yes! YES!!"

The next morning before work, he picked me up and took me to The Waffle House for breakfast. We were kind of goo-goo eyed... I told him all the plans I had for the wedding. Who was in it - what colors, etc. (The Waffle House was kinda our place, lol - he'd get off working nights and take me there before I went to work.)

Now it was time to get a ring, and a date!! I wanted October and he wanted VERY soon!!! Uh - how can I plan a wedding BEFORE summer? I was not gonna melt on a summer HOT Texas day. No way!

Right after our engagement, Keith's grandMartha attached this sweet picture (taken December 1988) with the poem she wrote.

The next Thursday night, Keith and I went to Town East Mall to look and buy rings. We went to the jewelry store where he had bought my pretty little ruby ring for Christmas.

On our way home, we saw LaReshia's SUV (we called it a mini truck back then) passing us on LBJ. We started honking and waving at her. We motioned for her to pull over and we parked in a parking lot in South Garland. She was the first person to see our ring! We were sooo excited!

That Friday night, we went to dinner with Ed & Alene to Wyatt's. Again I showed off my ring. I called it a puzzle ring because the diamond engagement ring stood alone - Diamond shaped. But it fit together with the wedding band surrounding it in little diamonds. We had a nice dinner with them and of course, they were very excited!!