The Story
We first met while sitting in a circle of about forty people at Stanford University on the first day of training at iD Tech Camps in 2007. Although we were sitting across the circle from each other, we bonded over a mutual love of the band Stars. We took notice of each other at that point, but went our own ways throughout the summer; and it was not until the last week of camp that we began to really take interest in each other. Burke approached me by saying, “So I hear you’re down with JC?” To which I eagerly replied, “I love Jesus!” Our tenure at Stanford eventually ended with a poignant drive to the airport and a fervent hug.
A few emotionally laden days followed as Lizzie prepared for a semester in France; we continually spoke on the phone, and I learned of her circle of friends known as the Mean GRRRLS. I foolishly asked if I could be a Mean GRRRL, and Lizzie, of course, said no. At that point I vowed I would become her best friend. Starting a friendship seemed impossible from opposite ends of the country, let alone different continents, but I was convinced it would happen.
We grew closer over the months apart and while I was traveling throughout Europe I always anticipated the return to France to regain the internet access that allowed communication with Burke. It was after an extended trip to Italy that I came back to an email written by Burke (Best Friend Email #40). Upon reading the email it was clear our friendship had become something more. At that point it was already planned that Burke was going to travel to Europe to visit friends and meet up with me. However, impatience, as always, got the best of us and we started dating on November 26th before he could ask in person.
We spent three glorious days in Prague while Lizzie and her roommate JoLyn (Joro) backpacked through Europe. The time we had together foreshadowed the year to come, from the fabulous laughs to the sad goodbyes. Lizzie and I visited one another via transcontinental flights as much as possible, but the visits never lasted as long as we would have liked. Our relationship has grown increasingly more special and we are very much looking forward to July 19th, 2009 when we never have to part ways again.
The Proposal
The day started with Burke waking up early for an interview at Stanford. He was gone for hours, but he returned saying that the interview went well. When he returned to the apartment, he started acting a little bit funny. Burke “took the recycling out” around noon but left the trash behind, and he took twenty minutes doing it as he called and asked my parents for permission to marry me. Later in the day I sat on Burke’s bed while Burke worked on his computer doing various things. I watched as he quickly closed windows and precariously looked over his shoulder at me. To his actions, I responded by dragging a chair from the dining room, into his bedroom, perching myself right next to him.
Later in the afternoon Burke went to check the mail. An unusual occurrence since he was not going to or coming from anywhere else. Secretly he was calling Max's Opera Cafe to make a reservation and to tell them about the special arrangements he needed to make.
When we arrived for dinner, Burke continually tried to settle his nerves by making casual conversation but the only words he could come up with were “I love you.” At one point, I even said, “You sure are telling me you love me a lot tonight Burke.” I later asked if it was a special dinner to congratulate Burke on a good interview or to wish him luck for his next interview at Gap the following day, but he just laughed and said he felt bad for leaving me at the mall while he went to a Sharks game with his Dad. After dinner, Burke left the table to use the restroom. He wasn’t gone for too long before the waiter delivered an envelope with my name on it. Inside was a handwritten letter and the car keys from Burke asking “Are you ready?” and explaining that dinner was taken care of and that I should take the car to Stanford’s main quad.
I sat nervously for a moment and reread the letter before walking out to the car. I was shaking so I went to turn up the heat in the car to 78 degrees (the temperture I had requested on the way, but we had settled on 74 instead) and found that Burke had already turned up the temperature for me. It was then that I realized I wasn’t even cold, I was shaking because I was nervous! I proceeded to explore the contents of the car. Burke had laid out his Bible open to 1 Corinthians 13 for me to read. He also had burnt a Sigur Ros CD (something we had listened to the first time he drove me around at Stanford), left an “I love you” post it note, and left his phone in the car because he knew I did not have mine and wouldn’t be able to call if I got lost. As I read and reread the passage, I prayed for God to bless our future lives together.
With that I drove from the restaurant about two miles to the oval and circled it until I found a parking spot. As I walked up to the main quad, Burke came out and greeted me from behind a pillar where he led me to a path lit with candles lining the ground. He took me by the hands and asked me once again, “Are you ready?”
