We're Engaged!

So last Saturday I had lunch with a friend, Jenn, from high school. She had moved away to go to college, but she came back into town for the weekend, so she invited me to go to lunch with her at Red Robin. I had also met up with another friend that was in town for breakfast that morning, and was gonna be able to see yet another mutual friend of doug and mine's from Hume (Megan) that afternoon. And I wasn't feeling well. I've been sick lately, and my stomach was giving me problems. I almost canceled on Jenn. Good thing I didn't.

We're sitting there eating lunch and all of a sudden our waiter walks up, asks, "Is your name Rochelle?" And then gives me this:

It was a giant poster size card. On the inside there was a message from Doug pretty much saying that I was going on a scavenger hunt and to bring Jenn along. Right then everything clicked into place for me. Jenn. Megan. And other clues that I had noticed that week. I knew what was coming.
Also on the inside of the card was a clue for the next place. There were some blanks and some clues for those blanks and also a polaroid picture taped in flipped over. I pulled it off and figured out the next place to go:

Century 16 Movie Theatres. So we left for the movie theatre.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town...

From the movie theatre I got another poster card with another clue and another picture. As we were pulling out of the parking lot and trying to make a left turn, a car got into a turn lane to make a U turn. I thought, "That looks like Jay's car" (I knew that he and Doug were "hanging out" today) Sure enough as he made the U-turn I saw that "Joshua Wilderness Institute" Decal on the back of his car.

The next clue brought us to our friend's beach house that her family owns. We've spent many days hanging out there and enjoying the beach.

Jenn found the next card, which directed us to Corrales, the only place that I like Mexican food and one of Ventura's food gems that I introduced Doug to

All the time I was looking for people that I might know that were watching us. I knew Jenn was in on it even though she kept denying it. And I knew that Jay was in on it, and Megan too. But who else? The next clue took us to the supposed location for a new Wood Ranch. The closest one to us is in Camarillo and that's where Doug and I had had our "UnValentine's" date. At first I couldn't figure out the picture, but had figured out the place from the clues and thought, "No way am I driving out to Camarillo!" But then I saw the Macy's sign in the background and figured out that it was the old run down Fresh Choice.

We found that card taped to the sign and found that the next clue was Ventura High School where Doug and I had gone to listen to some singers for our music class last spring. So back in the car we went.

The last card directed us to the cross up on the hill downtown. The ACLU had tried to tear it down a couple of years ago, but a church bought the property, so now they can't touch it.

As we pulled into the parking lot I saw Doug's truck there and knew I had come to the end of the hunt. He didn't seem to realize I was there yet as I walked up. He was talking to some people nearby. But Megan was there with him and taking pictures.

Me coming from the parking lot down to the cross

I walked up behind Doug and touched his back to get his attention. He gave me a hug and then told me that he loved me. He made a small speech but neither one of us can remember exactly what he said because both of us were so nervous (Jay had bet Doug $10 that he would throw up.)

Then he got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him.

I said yes!

While we were still up at the cross Devonna called me so I got to share the good news with her first (besides all of the people that already knew that had helped Doug out)

I was then told that people were at the house waiting for us. So we went back to my house

Proud dad

Happy mom


Pretty much everyone that had helped out

The ring. Saphires and a diamond. I need to get it resized though cause my fingers were smaller than even I knew!



So there you have it. That's the story.