Total Engagement

No, this is not about web stats.

G proposed to me seventeen years ago this week.

We were at one of our favorite places at the time. When we lived in Michigan, we used to attend the Icewine Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.

We’d bundle up and pack our suitcases for a 4-5 hour drive in cold, cold January. As I write this issue I can remember that cold more this year. It’s an unseasonable forty-four degrees here in Florida.

We’d check into our bed and breakfast and start strolling. Niagara-on-the-Lake was the sweetest village. Picture perfect.

G made reservations for a late dinner on Saturday night at Peller Estates. We dressed up and had a proper date night. We had lamb chops and risotto. I double checked my memory with G and remembered correctly.

After the waiter took our order, G got up from his chair and the next thing I knew was beside me on one knee. I have to admit, for someone who didn’t dream of getting married, this proposal did me in.

When I said, yes, the whole dining room burst into applause.

And then two tables bought us glasses of champagne the rest of the night!

It’s funny that our Big Night took place there. I’ve always had a soft spot for Canada.

I was three or four when I first visited. My grandparents used to vacation in Buckhorn, Ontario at Ardagh. They’d rent a cabin on the lake during the summer; my mom and dad would take me there to see them. Grandpa would fish. I would sit on the stoop at the cabin and have chipmunks visit me. I’d sit still and hold little bread crumbs and they’d come close and grab them.

A few years later, Mom and Dad took me to Toronto for a long weekend. It was a five hour drive from Cleveland and I’m pretty sure we went there because the exchange rate was superb. We stayed at a hotel in Yorkdale, north of the city and took the subway into downtown. It was probably my first trip to a big city and I was in awe.

We walked and walked York and Yonge and Bloor. We viewed the city from above at CN Tower. Toured Casa Loma. Visited Ontario Place on the water, then a little theme park. We stopped in Eaton Centre and found the best muffins at a place called mmmmmMuffins. Genius.

I think we went to Toronto twice as a family. I was fourteen or so the second time. Mom stayed at the hotel by the pool while Dad and I did the sightseeing. I remember being annoyed by her indifference toward exploring and spending time with us.

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Canada became a destination for me and G as well. Besides Niagara-on-the-Lake, we spent a few weekends in Toronto. Ontario was an easy road trip destination.

With G, the tours of the city were more food centric. We discovered neighborhoods like Chinatown and Cabbagetown. We tried bubble tea. We strolled through the Distillery District and tasted some ales. We found St. Lawrence Market and a rooftop bar at the Park Hyatt Toronto.

On a visit to G’s family in upstate New York, we took a train north to Montreal for a few days.

I studied French for eight years and welcomed any opportunity to visit a French speaking land. G gave me Montreal and he gave me France. I was a very happy girl.

We stayed in a charming hotel in Old Montreal. We discovered smoked meat sandwiches, bagels, and poutine. We walked cobblestone streets. I took home a madeleine pan as my souvenir.

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My mom always sent a card or note celebrating our engagement day in January. We appreciated that. It’s still a pretty big day on our calendar. And a big reason why I’ll always send a valentine to Canada.

I care about you. Please don’t forget to eat your greens.