I am kinda glad I got to say all the news and details without interruptions including the part about having it at the beach house. His first question now will be about the wear on the septic system "How many people will be flushing the toilet?"
Subject: news.... announcement.... thing!
Dear Dad:
Wanted to write, because [ecurbh] and I have been talking about future plans, and we have been so far unable to turn the subject of conversations to "us" when we have been up there. I am not real good at tapping the glass to make big announcements.
The major "announcement" is that we are engaged and intend to marry!
The date we are talking about is Saturday July 3. Of course, this depends on either or both of us finding good jobs soon so that we are not broke and prospectless! Right now there is a lot of time for that to happen. I would say that we might reconsider that date and that plan if we are both still scraping in April.
Plans: (We could elope if that is what everyone would prefer!)
We would like to have a very small, and very casual wedding and reception/party outside, at low tide on the beach there at the house. We would like to know if you are open to that, as long as the event stays as small as possible and really casual. We can work out the details (and discuss them with Dona probably most important!) but I would say that because neither [ecurbh] or I belong to a church, and because we would not want to spend a fortune renting a place that has no personal meaning, we would really like for it to be there. I would rather spend energy and money on buying lots of landscaping flowers for the yard there this spring than rentals and decorations. I am thinking that we could stand on the dock perhaps, and have people gather-round for a few minutes for simple vows. Nothing fancy and very much "us".
I intend to not let the planning get out of control, hope to have a beach party kind of event with everyone outside and playing on the beach on a nice summer day. No hired music, no dealings with wedding designers, no rented chairs and linens and caterers and flowers and ~all~ that stuff. Thinking pot-luck or barbecue kinds of food... With Kay able and willing to do that along with Dona if Dona wants that.
Anyway, all this detail stuff is stuff that can wait. I am ahead of myself. The main problem I wanted to solve is that we are engaged, have been making a lot of plans that involve you, and yet we haven't told you! I am happy to have found him, finally, and I hope you are approving of "us". I do hope you are happy about us, and that we will have your blessing!
[Hair] and [ecurbh]
Asides and etceras: I did not ask for him to buy me a ring. I wanted and intend to wear Mom's ring. I am now wearing it on the left hand instead of the right.... and have been really since Christmas, but such a subtle thing has not been noticed! (I thought Dona would say something!) [Ramius] knew, because we talked about it on the thread and at Entmoot.... but he has been keeping the secret.
I don't have a good email address for Dona..... Hoping you'll forward on the news?