Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Last Friday Night

Our new restaurant of choice is the recently opened 715. I've still not heard if its proper name is seven-fifteen or seven-one-five; I've opted for the most literal: seven-hundred-and-fifteen. We arrived early Friday night, around 6:30, to beat the crowd, and were promptly seated near the door. A half-liter of the cheap white house wine. For the lady, a simple green salad featuring goat cheese and five thin radish slices, followed by potato tortelli with local bison ragu. I enjoyed the special -- a pan-seared, wild-caught striped bass over broccoli and calabrian chiles -- more than any fish I've ever eaten outside of Oregon.

Despite the allure of the after-dinner drink menu's hot apple cider Tuaca, I convinced Kim to join me for a vanilla vodka and Coke at Henry's Upstairs. Walking along Massachusetts Street, already discussing her dad via an unrelated thing, I told her what he said on the day after Thanksgiving, when I asked his permission to propose.

"Sure."

Her father shared one additional, deceptively simple sentence: "Just make her happy." I apologized for my lack of plans or timeline, and returned to silently chopping vegetables for the turkey soup.

I told Kim all this -- by now we'd trekked to our nearly empty destination, climbed the stairs, accepted our drinks, and sat at the same table where I'd first held her hand -- and I told her how happy she made me, and I asked her to marry me. It took a few moments to convince her to open the box in my left hand instead of looking at it, and me, and smiling.

16 comments:

Corinne said...

....and I'm crying. My congratulations once more.

Lindsey said...

and me as well. what a way to start the day. adorable.

dukkillr said...

Congrats, very cool.

Jared said...

Fantastic. Really fantastic. Being married really is the best.

And if I can recommend a song for the bride and groom dance, I know a great one by Evanescence...

Alison said...

I did not cry. But I did smile, and I'm pretty sure my heart thawed a bit.

I'm also glad you passed on the Tuaca. Congrats all around.

Floyd said...

Eh, I don't know. You could have proposed at any time, but that hot apple cider Tuaca drink is likely seasonal at best.

dn said...

I'm crying now too, just thinking about that amazing bass.

Gav said...

Bass? I always hated hip hop night at Henry's...

Congratulations.

Open Bar.

Millie said...

I add my congrats as well--it's just thrilling. Well described and executed.

I know this pianist...

casey elizabeth said...

yes. yes. i know this pastor...

Lindsey said...

Oh my god. Please make Evanescence happen again. You can perfect your technique at Casey's wedding. Remembering that night is like looking at a sunnier version of my life and how I yearn for it to be again.

a-dub said...

I keep reading it over and over. It's so neat! Makes me giggle!

Adrienne said...

i like that this is tagged under "nightlife."

happiness to you both.

Barbara said...

Well done and well done.

Jenny said...

Yay! Good work, Dan.

Brian Gregoire said...

I find it hard to believe that the fish was better than anything you have eaten on the Elk River.....that is all I am saying