Pop goes the Question

i've had three of my girlfriends get engaged in the past week. i'm not sure if it's something in the water-but: i've decided that it must be that aliens are planning to overtake earth unless a few more people get married, and they're sending out subliminal messages about it that only my friend's men can pick up on. it's their way of saving the planet - and that's about the only thing i can come up with for the recent rash of proposals that has popped up. otherwise, it's just a coincidence-and i don't really believe in those. from dinner on the riverwalk-to reeling in the most expensive lure in history-my friends men seriously know how to pop the question. the stories i've heard over the past week have re-invigorated my belief that romance is still alive and kickin'. i mean-what's more romantic than getting asked to marry someone in such a personal, custom tailored way. these guys went to all lengths to make sure that when they asked it would be memorable. or in justin's case-maria said he didn't ask-he mostly demanded, by saying, "marry me." :) i'm a big fan of proposal stories, so i thought i'd share the one proposal story that i've heard that tops the list for me- this dude was dating a sorority sister back in oklahoma. every monday, the girls in the sorority had to dress up for a traditional dinner and sorority meeting in their nice southern, style mansion of a sorority house (at OSU). during the middle of the dinner- this short dude in a hat and tails comes rushing in with a glass slipper and he's fussing about how he "has to find the woman who fits this shoe". he tries it on several different women with no luck, until he finally comes across julie. she tries and it fits. immediately he takes her by the hand and says she simply, "has to come" with him. by this time, all the girls are buzzing, as they push away from the table and follow this little messenger and julie out the front door. once they look outside, there is a red carpet rolled out to a horse drawn carriage-and her soon-to-be fiance is on his knee at the base of the stairs-by the carriage. he asked her to marry her right then and there-and all the girls went crazy. i heard that story while i was at my own sorority house in edmond-and it has stuck with me since then. back when i was in a sorority, if someone announced that they were getting married-we'd go get baby powder and shower them in it for good luck. it was a glorified powder fight-but it was one of my favorite things to be a part of. i think, in this day and age, so many of us are skeptical when it comes to marriage. but, just like our childhood hearts and minds embrace it-i think we should, too. and i think we should shower the couple-to-be with support, grace, and love. after all, it is those who surround a couple who can help to keep them together in the long run. my step-dad said once, to me, that anyone who witnesses a wedding is, in a sense, pledging to help keep that couple intact in the trying times that are to come. i've taken that pledge seriously, ever since he pointed that out to me. congratulations, my friends. and to the men who popped the question to each of my friends, "nice work". you guys are the reason we women all keep believing in romance. so, here's to three beautiful blushing brides-and to the pledge that i will be one of the folks who always prays, hopes, and supports you as you embark on this lifetime of love, together. now, if i could only find some baby powder...