As Kim tells it...

As it didn't look like Shar was going to get around to asking, I had decided to turn the tables and ask him instead!

I was struggling with a creative way to propose, and landed on New York City, one of Shar's favorite places to visit. We were planning a trip to Manhattan in late October to visit a friend, so I hatched a plan to propose somehow during the trip. Of course, in the midst of this planning and thinking, Shar surprised me with his proposal, but I decided to go ahead with the plan anyway. After all, the guy deserves a ring and a proposal too!

But where? Central Park? Always romantic, but could I make sure we made the stop? Plus, I didn't want to carry the ring around and torture myself with "Is now the time?... How 'bout now?..."

So I settled on, frankly, a chicken way out - I proposed by proxy. I reserved a suite at the stellar boutique hotel Giraffe on Park Avenue in Manhattan, and fedexed to the concierge, to place in the suite before we arrived, my marriage proposal -- Shar's gift-wrapped wedding band, and a photograph of myself holding it in the palm of my hand. I had written on the photograph, in Italian, "Will you marry me?" We had already picked out Shar's ring, a titanium band with three grooves and a center diamond, made by a Bay Area artist, so I had it easy on that score.

When we arrived in JFK that morning and hailed a cab, I overrode Shar's instructions to our driver and gave him an address on Park Avenue, telling Shar we needed to call our friend because she needn't wait around for us to arrive. He was already a little groggy from the red-eye flight from SFO, so this change of plans was only more confusing.

When we stepped into our suite at the Hotel Giraffe, the photograph and ring box were set on the table in the living room with a bottle of champagne, two glasses, and chocolate. I had to translate the phrase on the photo, but I think he had the general idea by then. I think he said yes, although I don't recall...