So the many nights before Kw Family Reunion I could not sleep. Choosing where I was going to buy the diamond from searching for what Jennifer would want best. then waking up the next morning and calling Jennifer I almost blew it. every time. here I was used to sharing everything in my life with her and having to tell her I was just tired and not that I was tired from not sleeping and thinking about diamonds all night. It was very extreme.

Then I talked to her parents. It was such a fun delightful conversation that I could not sleep that night and I was excited. I loved them and I wanted to share it with Jennifer it was so tough. Not saying anything.

It was so tough to not talk about marriage because it was the only thing on my mind. Then I felt like I was trying to hard if I did not mention it to her or tell her how much I loved her and how I wanted to marry her. One thing that only Jennifer and I know is that I have asked her to marry me like 100 to 1000 times really. But only the time in Atlanta counts. -I kept telling her this is for reals as she was crying. It all went down perfect.

Well as you can guess, I just happened to be on the phone with Ryan when she found out about this “new duty”.  Asking if she wanted to talk to him, she quickly jumped on the line and said, “Ryan, I need you to find a hot groom for the wedding!” 

Ryan paused for a second and said, “What?” 

My sister replied, “It says here I have to dance with one of the grooms, and I want to dance with a hot one…  So make sure you pick out some good ones.” 

Before Ryan could respond, I nudged my sister, saying, “I think you mean grooms ’men’, because Ryan is the groom.”   

We all had a good laugh! 

Especially when looking with two men…

We looked at three locations… 

Verandas, La Venta Inn, and Disneyland…  in that exact order. 

Verandas was nothing special. 

As the three of us drove up Pacific Coast Highway, the view of the refinery was enough to put us off.  Big stacks sitting in plan view, all fenced off. Not something you want when you are planning one of the biggest events in your life.

But the topper must have been the artificial turf.  My dad just stood there, looking at the more than green grass, touching it with his foot…  Ryan was less than amused. 

We were off to stop two, La Venta Inn.

We showed up a half an hour early to our appointment, but that seemed to be okay. It gave us time to look around…And it was beautiful. There was the perfect view of the queen’s necklace (a view where the ocean meets the lights), a sweet sent of nature and that special feeling when you walk in.

As we toured the place, Ryan and my dad made jokes about throwing corn stocks instead of rice, or us having to have karaoke because we are “Asian”. So bad…

We knew though, that this was the place.

Before moving on to the third location, we took a detour to visit my mom.

She was excited to show off Ryan, I doubt she even noticed that my dad and I were there. She introduced him as “her future son in law”.

And I know Ryan was smiling from ear to ear.

After lunch, we took a venture to Disneyland.

During that hour and a half ride, we saw a burning van (and I do mean burning) and a butt crack that I know Ryan and my dad want to erase from their memories…

And finally, we arrived at the happiest place on Earth.

For some reason, we thought everything would be more spectacular. But it wasn’t. It was too open, and too far of a walk, and the reception areas reminded us of conferences, not our dream wedding.

And with that, we drove home, and knew… La Venta Inn.

I had visited several diamond shops throughout the week, looking for what stone or diamond and setting I was going to use to propose to Jennifer, the love of my life.

I knew Jennifer would be off work by 7:30 CST (5:30 PST). I only had her parents home phone number and her sisters cell. I called the home phone a couple of times after 7pm my time and had no answer. I was hoping her dad would be home from work early on Friday afternoon and I would have a chance to talk to him.

–No luck on Friday night after several tries. I would try again on Saturday.

I knew Jennifer and her mom were going to go shopping and to pilotes on Saturday. It was going to be her mom’s birthday on Sunday and so they were going to their regular pilotes workout and then shopping for a new birthday purse.

I thought Saturday would be the perfect time to talk to Jennifer’s dad while the girls were away.

As I called several times throughout the day I never got an answer at the house. I was starting to panic. I then got a call from Jennifer and through general conversation asked, “What are your dad and sister doing?” She said her dad had to work and would not be home till later. By this time. Jennifer and her mom had already returned home from shopping and were hanging out at the house. I quickly text messaged her sister and asked….What is your dad’s cell phone and don’t tell your sister.

A little bit later I received a reply with the phone number of her father and the question, “Why do you need it?” The high schooler was quickly putting one and one together.

-I chose not to reply and hope the suspense did not kill her.

At the same moment I received the cell phone number of Jennifer’s father, I was on the phone with Jennifer as she relaxed at her parents house, and her dad had come home from work.

There was no way I was going to be able to call his cell and not have everyone in the house notice I was calling him. I wanted the proposal to Jennifer to be a surprise.

As they went out to dinner that Saturday night as a family, another days opportunity was lost.

Super Bowl Sunday.

Today was Jennifer’s mom’s birthday. I had talked to my sister and my plan was to ask both the parents for permission. It is the 21st century and I respect them both equally.

I thought it was a good idea and a good gesture. As I talked to Jennifer throughout the day, I said, “Let me call your mom to wish her happy birthday.” My true goal was to say happy birthday but also….Can I marry your daughter?

I called and got Jennifer’s sister and asked her if she was going to watch the super bowl. She was not interested and had English home work to work on.

I then spoked to Jennifer’s mom. I wished her Happy Birthday. I asked her, what she received for her birthday. She said Kelvin was out running all the errands. -I thought your kidding I am never going to be able to get this guy on the phone! I told her how nice that was of him and that I was hoping to talk to the both of them about something.

I had talked it over with my sister and we had thought of asking both the mom and the dad.  So as I sat on my couch on the phone to Jennifer’s mom, I could feel myself sweating and over heating.  I said, I wanted to ask for your permission to marry Jennifer, and ask her when we were going to be in Atlanta together at the convention.

Her mom happily replied, Thank you and yes they would love for me to be a member of their family.  And that Kel -Jennifer’s father liked me so much.  It was an exciting conversation I told her mom that I loved her too.  She said that when Jennifer is with me they feel like they don’t have to worry.  And that, that is a big deal because before they always felt they had to worry about her.

Joce, Jennifer’s sister was very excited also and said that she knew it!  She had been reading a lot of Jane Austin novels and thought that is what I was up to as I asked for her dad’s phone number.  She got on the phone and said she would love to have me as a brother which was so nice.  And I hope I meet her expectations.  -I’m not exactly a 4.0 report card kind of guy.  But it was very excited to here her say that.

Joce wanted to know how I was going to do it and I told her how I had been thinking about it and thought of either doing it on my Grandma and Grandpa Kucera’s Wedding anniversary or on Valentines day.  And that I was going to be there for almost a week with Jennifer and not ask her or give it away and that was going to be really tough.  Jennifer’s Mom quickly jumped on the phone to get all the details also.  I told them how I had reservations in the Sun Dial at the Westin.  It was very exciting.

I asked them not to tell Kelvin and told them that I would call him and ask.  I still want to know what they said when he came home from running errands.  I bet they were excited.

I called Kelvin next and got him, he didnt recognize the number and said hello.  I said Kelvin this is Ryan Kucera.  He said, WHO?  _Oh no! Not the way I wanted this to start out.  …..I will finish this later…

I said baby you dont have your shoes on, you cant go get ice.  -As I looked down she still had her shoes on. Oh NO!  I quickly helped her out of her boots so she could relax.  I then asked her to make a bath and help put the food away in the fridge.

As Jennifer bent over to put the food away I quickly grabbed the ice container and ran out the door yelling going to get Ice.  And did not look back.

I called Dick who happened to be staying on the same floor.  He said he could not hear me as I was scurrying around the hallway.  Dick finally came out of the hallway in his pajamas.  I quickly hand him the ring but not before you here Sharon yelling like she was from East Texas “What are you guys doing?” Her voice echoed down the hallway.

I smiled and handed Dick the ring (stone).  No questions asked.  I proceeded to get ice and head back to the room.

The ring was now out of site and physical availability of Jennifer.

Below is the sequence of photos the waiter took while I was proposing. 

My buddy Lou said he has never seen me smile this big in my life.  He is so right now.  Love you Jennifer. 

rk