Cali and Paul

Posted Monday, June 15, 2009 10:33 AM

Note: Our first date was at a Royals game.

I’d come home from Springfield for the summer of 2007. I was taking an intersession class back at MSU a few weeks before fall classes started. I’d gone to my class for the week and, unknown to me, Paul had a busy week planning to pop the question.

One night that week Paul called me and said that his dad had received free Royals tickets we could have for Friday, August 10, 2007. I thought it sounded fun so I told Paul to take them. When I showed up to his house, he asked me, “Can you tell I have something in my pocket?” I said, “No.” He went on to tell me that he was going to put his wallet in his front pocket so it wouldn’t fall out while he sat at the game. I was a little confused but went along with it. So we headed to the game. I talked him into taking me to Las Chili’s for all-you-can-eat tacos. I had a coupon! We went there and he ended up only eating two tacos. I knew he wasn’t feeling well. A normal all-you-can-eat taco meal would consist of more than two tacos! He assured me that he felt well enough to go to the game.

We arrived at the game early, which wasn’t normal for us. So around the end of the second inning, I told Paul I needed to go to the restroom. He told me to wait a little longer. Then I noticed a cameraman and Royals worker standing at the end of the stairway at our section. I was thinking to myself that they were going to put someone in our section on the JumboTron after the inning because they were just standing around waiting. Little did I know it would be me! After the second inning ended, the cameraman rushed up to our seats and we were on the JumboTron. I heard over the intercom: “May I have your attention please? Paul has an important question to ask Cali.” Then I figured out what was going on; I guess the fact that Paul was down on one knee wasn’t enough for me! I didn’t even say anything since I was so surprised. I remember the announcer had to ask what my answer was and I just nodded my head yes.

It was all over in less than a minute but it seemed like a lifetime when it was happening.

So the week I was at MSU, Paul had been quite busy. He had to purchase the ring, ask my dad for permission, and coordinate the event with the Royals. He did a great job keeping it quiet and surprising me. It turns out that the ring was in his front pocket and he didn’t want me ask what it was if I saw something there. He was thinking ahead!
 
For our one-year engagement anniversary, I purchased a Legacy Brick. The bricks will be placed somewhere around the entrance of the Royals Stadium after they redo the stadium. It says, "She said, ‘Yes!’ Paul and Cali 08-10-07." You’ll have to look for it the next time you go to a game!