So here’s a story I haven’t told y’all.
Right after Christmas, when D. and I met New Marti for the first time, we could tell right away that Todd was completely smitten with her. When you’ve been friends with someone for more than fifteen years, you pick up on these things.
Our day with Todd and New Marti seemed to fly; and by the time we ate lunch, visited with Martha and Sissie and hung out at Mama and Daddy’s a little bit more, it was time to say good-bye. Todd and New Marti were going back to his parents’ house outside of Jackson, and we were heading back to Alabama.
Once D. and I were in the car alone (well, with Alex, of course), we immediately looked at each other and said, “She’s the one.”
And we weren’t two blocks from Mama and Daddy’s when I looked at D. and said, “Hey, has Todd told Marti that he loves her yet?”
D. replied that he had no idea.
“Well, I’m going to ask him,” I said.
So I called Todd’s cell phone – with the plan of asking him very quietly so that Marti wouldn’t overhear the question and get embarrassed. After all, I’d only known her for about four hours, and she might feel a little awkward what with me asking terribly personal questions and all.
For some reason Todd’s voicemail picked up, and I said, in my typically subtle fashion, “Hey. Have you told Marti that you love her yet? Because we can tell that you love her. And you should tell her. I’m just sayin’.”
Then I hung up my phone.
Well, about five minutes later D.’s phone rang, and Todd was on the other end laughing so hard that he couldn’t speak.
Apparently Todd was going through a no-service area when I called him, and shortly after I hung up my phone, he saw that he had a message. And he decided that he would play it. On speakerphone. With Marti in the car.
Thankfully, Todd did not kill me. In fact, the message served a bit of an icebreaker for a conversation whose time had come, and WHADDYA KNOW, Todd and Marti professed their love for each other on the way back to Jackson.
I’m like Cupid. Only not.
Well, long story long, about six weeks ago Todd called D. with the news that he had asked Marti’s parents for her hand in marriage (he may live in California, but he’s a good Southern boy at heart), they’d given their blessing, and he was planning to ask Marti to marry him sometime in June.
I couldn’t help but ask Todd if he needed me to leave any voicemails on his cell phone to speed up the process.
He gently declined my offer.
Todd and D. had lots of talks over the next couple of weeks, and right before we left for the land of the mouse, Todd sent us a picture of the engagement ring he had picked out, which was really kind of him since it made me COMPLETELY PARANOID about letting the secret slip when we were in California.
But I was so good, y’all. Total Sidney Bristow-type cool (except without the cool disguises, of course). Even when the word “ring” would come up in casual conversation (as in, “Did your phone ring?”) and I would feel the color completely drain from my face.
The plan was that Todd was going to give Marti the ring this past Tuesday night at the end of a very romantic dinner. When Tuesday night finally rolled around, D. and I were VERY nervous for him and kept waiting for him to call with the big news. At one point Marti left their table for a minute, and Todd did call D. – but instead of having big news, he had two very important questions:
“BETWEEN THE PINKY FINGER AND THE MIDDLE FINGER?”
“Yes,” D. answered.
“LEFT HAND?”
“Yes.”
“Okaybye.”
And about an hour later, two very happy people called to share their exciting news.
So the next time D. and I head to California, it’s going to be for a wedding.
We can all say “AWWWWW” together.
He is so very very cute. I hope he proposes today on my Birthday!! This is a sweet post Boo.
AWWWWW!!! That’s a great engagement story! I’m a sucker for those….
Very cool. :-) I am so happy for them, and so proud of you for keeping the secret. :-) It would have been tough for me too. :-)
Yea!!! So happy for new Marti and Todd, cause of course we feel like we know them :)
how like a man to not be sure which finger or which hand! I think girls know from the moment they realize they HAVE fingers.
Awwwww, that is so totally sweet….and I love the way you recorded it. And we do indeed feel like we know all about them and want to go to the wedding and everything….so you’ll have to be our correspondent of all things Todd/New Marti marrying…it’s a big job, but you’re the best for the job!
Awwww, is right!! Very sweet story!!
Hey, since you are kind of like Cupid, can I send my sister your way? :)
His,
Mrs. U
Oh, I laughed. Thank you for that. And congrats to the happy couple.
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! How sweet! Funny how sometimes even us outsiders can tell if someone is “The one.”
That was hilarious! And sweet. :)
Congrats to Todd and new Marti. “Did the phone ring?” LOL!!!! You are the best to record all these romantic events. Real southern men still do ask the dad’s for their daughter’s hand. How sweet. :-)
How sweet!
That Todd is a husky buffalo!
Hi, I just wanted to say I love your design!
http://www.frederictonmomsandbabies.blogspot.com
New Marti is marrying the movie star!!!
What a good looking couple they make.
So sweet! It was obvious *just by the pictures* that New Marti was The One after Christmas, so a ring on her pretty little finger is only to be expected. :) Congrats to them!
seriously: “awwwwwwwwwww”
how cute.
blessings,
karla
That is so sweet! I hope your little man gets to be the ring bearer! He would be adorable in a suit!
That is a very sweet post, but what I really want to say is that immediatley after reading the word “Jackson”, I had a flash of Reese Witherspoon and Juaqiun (No idea how to spell that) Phoenix sining “I’m Going To Jackson” in Walk The Line. Good thing that is such a good song and movie, because it will not get out of my head!
That my friend is a great telling of a perfect story… And I can’t believe he didn’t take you up on your voicemail offer… that would have been perfect!
You go Cupid… er, Boomama.
if you’re feeling confident about this cupid thing I have a son I’d like you to meet and analyze
What a GREAT story!
I just have a note. I have you on bloglines but for some reason my bloglines have not shown me any posts recently so I’ve not been reading. Are any of your other bloglines subscribers having any trouble?
I had the impression they were more serious at Christmas. You know, coming across country for an important holiday. Good for you for greasing the wheels of love!
Oh, one more thing…
I have a 27 year old nephew in Jackson that needs a push one way or another with his girl. Are you up to taking on another clueless male as a client?
The voicemail thing is something I Would have totally done. How funny!
Congrats — I guess we would prepare you for being called “Auntie Boo” in the coming years.
Such a sweet story! Gave me goosebumps.
But I guess I haven’t been reading your blog as long as I thought. I don’t the “New Marti” reference and that link doesn’t work for me.
Awww…so sweet. Congrats to Todd and “new Marti”!
The cell phone story is very funny; I can’t believe he didn’t take you up on your offer to help with the engagement!
what pretty friends you have~:)
My face hurts. I have been smiling at this post, which links back to a post you wrote around Christmas which links back to another post from around Christmas and so I had to read all of those, you know, to get the story on new Marti. All of this to say thank you for writing all about your precious family. It reminds me so much of my own very southern family and their quirkiness. And, of course, congratulations to the two love birds.
I can just hear your voice booming out on the car speakerphone like the whisper of a thousand angels.
Very southern angels.
I’m so happy for Todd and New Marti.
So exciting for them. Can we all come to the wedding with you???
This is so cute and THEY ARE SO CUTE! Sheez! They need to start populating the earth with their soon-to-be-beautiful children already!
And your voicemail? I heart you.
Jamie
That is so cute that he had to call about which finger it was! I love it. Can’t wait to see some wedding pictures in the future!!
What a sweet couple – YAY! for Todd and New Marti. Best wishes from another corner of the web :)
AWWWWW!
Too cute. Will your service to your fellow human beings ever cease? Really, BooMama, you are like Larry the Cable Guy–you just go in and Git er done. :) I totally agree with all tactics and applaud your lip-zipping. I bet it hurt. :)
How sweet!
Thanks for the sweet story and the great laugh!
Thats great! God Bless them!
I really needed a good laugh today, and your helpful voicemail story just made me laugh out loud. :)
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Oh, yay! Stories like this make me happy. :)
Wow! That is so exciting!
If I ever have someone I need a match maker for, I’ll be sure to call you!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaw!!!!!!