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Introduction It was Thanksgiving Day, twenty‑nine years ago, when I proposed marriage to my college sweetheart. I had the ring in my pocket and the plan to propose over Thanksgiving break. I was going to Marsha’s home in Atlanta, Georgia, for Thanksgiving with her parents. In order to understand my proposal, let me give a little background. I grew up in a home where there was an unwritten rule for all four sons – we did not invite a girl home from college unless we were engaged or about to be. So, for the three and a half years that we had dated, while we were attending college in Tennessee, Marsha had never been to my home in Virginia – and she knew why. My parents had met her, of course, and thought she was truly remarkable, so I had that base covered. I still had not asked her father if I could marry her and that was part of my plan over Thanksgiving break. So, I had the diamond engagement ring tucked away in its special box as she and I traveled to her home in Atlanta. I surprised her father with my request when he went down to work in a basement area on the furnace. It was the only time I could get him alone. The fuller story was that since I had dated his daughter and broken up with her in the past, he was actually planning to ask me over the Thanksgiving break what exactly my intentions were with his daughter. I beat him to the punch, and he said, “Yes.” Later that day, when Marsha and I were alone, I popped the question. I started by saying, “Marsha, I would like to take you to my parent’s home over Christmas break.” I paused to let this sink in. Her eyes told me she was catching on. I then added the words, “That is, if I can introduce you to everyone as my fiancée.” Another pause, and then I added, “That is, if you will marry me.” Marsha did a little bounce on her toes, wrung her hands, and said, “I don’t know.” This is not the way it happens in the movies.
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