“Babe, look at this audition I just
got!” It took all of my acting skill to play it cool as I stood
there reading the words I had written in an email on her phone. The
plan was in full swing. After about a month of planning, this was the
end game. It had to epic. Nothing less for the love of my life. This
was a once in a lifetime moment and I wanted it to mean the world to
her.
Michelle and I share many passions and
among them a love for the stage and film. In a large part, its what
was responsible for making us the romantics (some would say
hopeless)we both are. We both imagined ourselves being caught up in
some cinematic romance, but in truth, the years of singlehood and
heartache had left us disillusioned and wondering if there there
really could be magic in love or if Hollywood was just playing us for
fools. But God restored those hopes and dreams when we met each other
and it was better than either of us imagined. So, of course when it
came time to propose I wanted to make that movie magic come to life.
We are both actors and so I came up
with a scheme to send her on a fake audition. I came up with a
project and a role that I knew she wouldn't be able to resist. It was
an independent movie entitled “Treasured” and she played a
history teacher turned adventurer on the search for the Garden of
Eden. It was a cross between Indiana Jones and National Treasure. I
wrote out the breakdown and, with the help of a friend, wrote the
sides(script) and made up a fake production company called Next
Chapter Films, which also had a special meaning to us. I sent it to
her agent and she called her up and told her that she had an audition
for her. I asked a few old actor friends of mine to help out and play
the director and crew and they were more than happy to oblige. I
rented a theater that would be the location for the audition and also
asked some musician friends of mine to provide the music for the
moment.
After a week of prepping herself for
the audition, and me nervously working out the details, Friday came
around and she arrived at the theater impeccably on time which any
other time I love her for but it definitely put the fire under our
friends who were finishing the decorating. I took my place behind the
curtain backstage. In the lobby another “actor” was preparing but
a mysterious coughing fit came on her and she told Michelle to go
ahead and go in before her. She walked in and was greeted by the
“director” and the person reading with her. They explained away
the hanging lights and decorations as a production that happened to
be going on in the space. The camera was set up to record her
audition, she slated her name and dove into the first sides. She
finished and went to the next scene which was all about finally
finding the treasure she was seeking all her life. The second time
through was where my entrance came in.
One of the little quirks we have in
our relationship is that when one of us forgets what we were going to
say the other one quotes a line from “10 Things I Hate About You”.
In the script, I had written in a line for her that said “I don't
know what I'm trying to say.” At that moment I parted the curtains
and walked in saying “You love me? You can't live without me? Oh
baby, oh baby?” The lights went down, the Christmas lights above
came up along with a spot light underneath the paper lantern moon she
was standing beneath and the jazz trio backstage began playing “Fly
Me to the Moon.” She froze. As I came around and faced her I
reached my hand out and to turn her toward me. She was
uncharacteristically speechless as a smile started spreading across
her face.
“Take a look around. This is all for
you.” I said. “The name of the movie is Treasured. You
are my treasure.”
I said a couple
more things and then told her I was trying to think of something to
get her for Christmas and remembered how much she liked the moon. She
followed my gaze up to the paper moon hanging above us and I started
quoting one of her favorite movies “It's a Wonderful Life.” You
know the one: “You want the moon? Etc...” As I said the line, the
moon slowly lowered and I reached in and pulled out a small treasure
box. My mind was racing and my heart was beating hard and I looked at
her to say her name... and mixed up her middle and last name. I
quickly covered saying “I haven't learned my lines yet.” Then I
got to one knee, got her name right and ask her “Will you marry
me?”
Still
speechless and hands covering her mouth, she emphatically nodded yes.
I gave her a huge hug and took the ring out and told her that the
ring was special as well. “This may not be exactly your style,” I
said, “but it symbolizes 53 years of marriage... this is your
grandmother's ring.” That's about when the waterworks really
started flowing. I put the ring on her finger and our friends hiding
backstage and in the wings came out cheering. After she caught her
breath, she looked at the director and asked “So, do I get the
part?” She did indeed.
Wanna see it? Proposal Video
