The Proposal

In the month or so following the February 2002 meeting, Kristin spent a few days in Fairbanks (Matt's home) and Matt spent a few weeks in Denver (Kristin's home). By April, Kristin had moved back to Fairbanks again for the summer, and we spent as much time together as possible.

We both knew before we left Victoria, several days after the party, that we were destined to spend our lives together. By July, Matt had decided that it was time to make it official. Matt's parents happened to be visiting for a week and brought his grandmother's ring with them at Matt's request. On the night before their departure, when alone at home, Matt told Kristin that he wished she could have met his grandmother because she was very nice and wise, and had given him something to give to her. Kristin was somewhat confused because Matt's grandmother had died the year before we met and so would have no way of knowing her. When Matt produced the ring and read the following poem, it became more clear what was going on:

It's you I found

Only once a life
will I take a wife
and to her I'll say:

"It's you I found,
and it's you I'll hound,
until our wedding day."

I've grown too old
for being told
that marriage is out of fashion,

Though it was me who said
I'd be better off dead
than to legalize my passion.

I have a house
but I want a spouse
to make that place a home,

Filled with comfy chairs
to forget our cares
and write many a goofy poem,

Spending our days
in humble ways,
doing what seems best,

Whether in garden rows
or the violent throes
of some terribly meaningful quest.

It's taken a while
to adapt my style
to one that includes an equal,

But now I'm ready
to go steady
and maybe start working on the sequels.

'Cause the one I choose
wont me abuse -
I won't settle for icky women.

She's my best friend
for whom I'd spend
all the love that makes life worth livin'.

With a heart so kind,
a big strong mind,
and a body that leaves me no choice,

My mind is set
and you can bet
that no doubt will chill my voice,

When now to you I say:

"It's you I found,
and it's you I'll hound,
until our wedding day."

The next morning at the airport, we broke the news to Matt's parents and shortly thereafter sent the following image around to our family and friends via email.