We found the St. Regis, a newly opened property in Buckhead because it boasted an elegant and stunning outdoor pool. We packed our bag, gave the kids the cell number and headed to one of the most wonderous places in Atlanta. Nothing could have prepared us for the decor, the friendly staff and the over-sized rooms! Our suite was furnished with every luxury, including a chilled bottle of champagne.

We had spent our 20th anniversay in Rome, It., and as we lay besude the sinding staircases next to the Olympic pool being served hand and foot- our singular thought was that this was what Rome had wished it had in both beauty and romantic flair. We dined at Paces 88, another treat, and then headed back to the quiet of our Roman Holiday, 30 minutes from home, but a whole world away!

I had qualified for the USA Long Course Triathlon World Team and the ironman race was in Denmark. The Tuesday before the race I said a tearful goodby to my now husband. I was so sad to be leaving him. My friends, who were competing also, and I arrived in Denmark and went about our business of getting ready to race. We came back from a swim workout and my friend called and told me to come down to his room and bring my bag. He said he left something in it. I was totally confused since I knew he hadn’t, but said I’d be down as soon as I got dressed and was ready for our team dinner.

I arrived at my friends room and knocked on the door. When I opened it my friends were smiling and my now husband was behind the door. He flew to Denmark to surprise me and I was happily shocked.

The race took place a few days later and I was happy to have him there as support. It was wonderful to see his face at the finish line.

The next day we had plans to go to Copenhagen. We took the train to the city, had lunch, and started to tour around. We saw a church and he wanted to go inside so we did. I didn’t mind the rest since my legs were tired from the race. We sat there for a bit and I was kind of ready to go, but he seemed to be stalling. Finally I knew why…he got down on one knee and proposed.

I then found out that my friends who were in Denmark with me, and all of my friends and family back home, knew he was coming to Denmark to ask me to marry him.

Our flight schedules were different so we didn’t get to fly home together, but it sure was nice coming home engaged to the man I wanted to marry.

The next year we decided to try Myrtle Beach again. This time we were there for the tropical storm part of the hurricane that hit the east coast. We chose that day to visit
Broadway at the Beach – if you’re familiar with M.B. you’ll know that it is an outdoor shopping experience. We were soaked and windblown but in the end the weather was fine after one day of the tropical storm. I took pictures of the weather warning on the television feeling certain I would not experience that again.

The next year we decided to try a different destination, Panama City. We arrived on Saturday only to evacuate on Tuesday because of Hurricane Ivan. We knew when we saw Jim Cantore on the beach we were in big trouble! We did get to visit Pineapple Willy’s with no wait whatsoever! And all of the TV’s were tuned to the weather channels instead of any kind of sports. We evacuated to Pigeon Forge, TN only to be inundated with rain to the point that the hotel parking lot flooded a lot of people’s cars but we were lucky to have a ‘high riding’ car and ours was not affected.

We thought we’d go way out there the next year and go to Hawaii. As soon as we booked our trip Hawaii experienced the most rainfall they had seen in decades and one of the volcanoes erupted. We hadn’t even gotten there yet and they were already experiencing our luck!!

Last year we went on our first cruise thinking that was a safe choice since we all know they won’t cruise a full cruise ship into harm’s way or a hurricane. On the last night we were sailing we ‘followed’ a hurricane up the east coast and on the 5th deck of the ship we had waves crashing into our window. The boat was rocking so hard it rocked us literally across the room of our cabin and knocked things off the shelves in the gift shop. So much for that.

So now we’ve decided to hire ourselves out for vacation to anyone who might need some sort of natural disaster. Maybe a houseboat on Lake Lanier this year??? None of my family will go on vacation with us now. It’s a true test to see who our real friends are……any takers for the cruise we’ve booked for this year???

Saturday morning we got up to see all of the sites in Quebec City. We had fun taking in the sights together. Before he left Atlanta, he had made reservations for dinner at the Chateau Frontenac, a historic hotel over looking the St. Lawrence River. As we were leaving the hotel to make our way to dinner, he handed me my birthday present to hold. It was a little smaller than a shirt box. I must say I was a little disappointed…. We had been dating for about a year and a half, and were talking about marriage. I had hoped that the proposal would happen this weekend…How perfect! However, he quickly assured me the first night he arrived that was not going to happen, as he was planning a holiday proposal.

So, we were off to dinner in his rental car. He quickly became nervous that we were going to miss our reservation because of traffic. I told him it would be no big deal and we could just eat wherever. That, he would not accept. We made it just in time and we were seated at a beautiful table overlooking a statue of Samuel de Champlain, the founder of Quebec as well as the St. Lawrence River. How perfect! The waiter brought us our menus and as soon as he left, John insisted that I open my gift. He said he didn’t want to wait until dessert. So, I opened the card, which was really sweet. I open the box to find Wedding Wishes tissue paper. I remarked that it was a cruel joke, and he didn’t even notice it…he just said “it matched perfectly.” When I removed the tissue paper, I saw a beautiful picture frame with a picture of him on one knee holding a ring box. Written on the glass in silver marker was “Seras-tu ma femme?” which means “Will you be my wife?” I was so stunned that I couldn’t speak. He walked around the table to my chair and got down on one knee, with the ring, and said, “Lindsey, will you be my wife?” The best part was that he was so nervous, he had to tilt his head to the side and take a deep breath to get the words out. I quickly said Yes! The ring was beautiful and we had a wonderful, romantic dinner to celebrate.

I will never forget that day as long as I live.

Now, before we left for this trip, I walked into my livingroom and caught him looking at Facebook and saving a number into his cell phone. I immediately started making accusations, and he assured me that he had some surprise waiting for me, and that the plans would be finalized on Monday and e would tell me. Okay, so I let it go.

Fast forwards to Monday, we wake up and head over to Zion National Park, where he had planned for us to make the trek up to Angel’s landing. At first we had planned on eating breakfast at the park’s lodge, but we got there to late. Instead, we went up the trail to the Emerald Pools (i think that’s what is was called) and ate lunch afterwards.

Blistering hot and semi-exhausted, he said that we should still try to make the trek up, and since he was talking on and on about this trail for the last two months, I said sure. After a while of attempting to beat the heat, I told him that I could not go any further. I began to cry because he had really been wanting to do this, and here I was telling him it was a no go.

I was really upset and he told me it was okay. He reminded me about the surprise he had waiting for me and asked me to turn around. He got on one knee and asked me to marry him right there on the side of the mountain.

Needless to say, I’m very happy!