On July 2, 2004 Kevin informed me he was taking me out for a special night on the town. Here's what happened:
We went out to dinner at one of our favorite places to eat in Battle Creek, Clara's on the River. We dined outside. They just added the outdoor dining area that summer. Kevin ate a shrimp dinner of some sort. I had a mini roast beef sandwich and a side salad. Our waiter started out really good and was checking in on us a lot, but as dinner wore on, he started to slack off. We ate dessert as well. I had carmel apple pie, alamode and Kevin had key lime pie.
The plan was to go to dinner and a movie, but we got done about an hour before the movie was scheduled to start. I thought we'd go home and wait or do something. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get to the theater from my apartment and about 10-15 minutes from my apartment to Clara's.
Anyways, after dinner Kevin started driving in a different direction. I asked him where we were going. He said it was a suprise. Next thing I know we are at the Leila Arboretum Society.* I always wanted to visit it since we moved to Battle Creek, but I did not know where it was. It is a very beautiful place. Our first 20 minutes was spent looking for a public restroom (by the way at 8:30pm one does not exist). So we left and went to a gas station down the road. Then we came back for a more leisurely look at the gardens. We wandered around and looked at everything and then Kevin and I stood by the praire/butterfly garden area and watched the sunset. When the sunset was over (approx. 9:10pm) he asked me if I wanted to upgrade my ring, then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said of course, I've already started planning the wedding.
*A 72-acre living museum with more than 3,000 species of trees that date back as far as the 1920's, laid out in the manner of famous European gardens, Leila Arboretum is the perfect place to enjoy nature or plan your family's or organization's event. For pictures go here: |
