The Proposal                                                                                                        HOME
by Nick

The day had started badly. We awoke early (is there any other way to wake when you are camping?) and breakfasted. We had decided to go on a hike that day up to a glacier; it would take us about 4-5 hours to get there. Lunch had to be made and I was in the middle of making sandwiches. Not ordinary sandwiches, but the kind of sandwiches that would not be put to shame alongside a glittering engagement ring. I was busy slicing tomatoes when Carmen interjected and tried to advise me on how to construct a better sandwich. A heated debate ensued –one of very few we'd ever had, I might add. I probably wasn't on the best of form, being that I was close to asking a certain woman to marry me, and that didn't help matters.

Eventually, after Carmen apologised profusely and swore that she'd never try to interfere with my culinary ways again, we set off. Being English, I fear no man or mammal. Invertebrates scare the pants off me, but that's another story. However, these Canadians do not have the same English Steel (tm) running through them and we had been advised to carry bear bells, bear spray and the bear necessities (that bit was made up). There had been several bear sightings in the area and no-one was allowed to go off by themselves in some of the areas nearby –that was enough for me. The hike took us from the campsite, through tall trees and past silent lakes. We did not see another living soul -which was just as well as we hadn't washed for three days and were beginning to 'hum' ever so slightly.

As we trekked up the hill we called out from time to time to warn the bears that we were coming. Our bear sprays were close to our sides and after an hour or two of not seeing anyone else it began to get a little bit unnerving. More unnerving for me was the fact that I had a ring in my back pack that I hoped would fit Carmen. Eventually, after a good trek uphill and down gladded valley, we reached a point high enough to give us an absolutely stunning view. The silence was deafening, snow could still be found on the ground and we could see part of a glacier ripping down the mountain opposite us. We settled down onto large rocks and so started the most nerve racking pack lunch I have ever had.

The sandwiches were wonderful, but I hardly tasted them as 'the moment' crept ever closer. We eventually finished and Carmen was up and taking photos. I beckoned her down and she sat behind me and we cuddled. We carried on with a conversation as I searched in my bag for the box, finally locating it in a darkened nook. Big breath and....

'Carmen, I've got something for you,' our hero intoned as his unknowing wife-to-be carried on praising his sandwiches to the high heavens. He thrust the box into her hands, forgetting that he should open it (I have since learned that Carmen thought I was going to give her a pair of earrings). 'Will you marry me?'
Silence. Snow melted. The box was opened; the diamond caught the sun's rays and temporarily blinded half a town in Revelstoke. Tears ensued and a positive response was given. The rest of the walk back was taken up with seating plan discussions and what kind of starter we wanted for the reception.

Later that day we pitched up at another campsite where we dined on 'Hamburger Helper' and a crafty bottle of champagne that I had bought whilst Carmen was testing out bear sprays. The ring was on, now the real adventure was to start. 

THE ENGAGEMENT     HOME