Once upon a time, Luke surprised Dani on a mundane Monday night with a phone call that went a little like this:

Luke: Get the kids ready and fed by five. Pack them a bag for overnight.
Dani: Ok?? (She doesn't want to ruin the surprise so she doesn't ask what's going on.)
Luke: You need to wear clothes you wouldn't mind being seen in public in and you need to pack, a hat, gloves and scarf.
Dani: What about my moon boots?
Luke: I love your moon boots. Wear them.
Dani: Will I really need them? I don't want to wear them if I'm going to be inside the whole night.

Folks, I wore the moon boots.

After dropping the kids off, and a suspicious stop at a dollar store, in which I was told I could stay in the car, we drove to downtown Boise. Arm in arm, he lead me to the Knitting Factory, a venue we've been lucky enough to listen and see Josh Ritter and Andrew Bird in. He walks us to the will call booth, signs for the tickets, being careful to keep them hidden from my view. We go inside and look for seats. All the tables are taken. I don't know what's going on. The next conversation goes as follows:

Luke: Dani, I'm sorry, I guess the concert isn't for another couple hours.
Dani: Well, I still don't know what's going on so we'll just have to try and have a good time until whatever happens happens. Did you bring ...
Luke:...the ipod is in the car. There is no re-entry.
Dani: Bummer.
Luke: I know I'll make something for you out of this program. What do you want?
Dani: (She thinks of something outragous and impossible.) A frog.
Luke: Laugh laugh. Mmm. No,

I visited the ladies room and when I returned, there was a paper rose waiting for me, stem and leaf and all. What a charmer. I'll keep it forever.

So we killed time by being gushy and in love, listening to a 13 year-old make political jokes on stage, a cowboy want-to-be singing with his pretty guitar, and then we migrated down from our bar stools to right in front of the stage. At this point, I still don't know who we're there to see. Then they have a live auction, that doesn't go very well. Finally, the announcer welcomes Ingrid Michaelson to the stage. I turn to Luke and say:

Dani: Who's Ingrid Michaelson?
Luke: Oh you'll like her. She plays the girlie music you like and wears thick framed glasses like you.

She gets a thumbs up from me. She came onto the stage with a flowy orange scarf, aqua fuzzy boots, a purple hat, and a head cold. She was very entertaining and super sweet. And it turns out that Luke had given me a foreshadowing of this, the day before. He had played one of her songs while studying and asked me if I liked it (I didn't remember this part) I said yes.

Anyway, the concert ended and I was very inspired by her talent and we walked back to our car in the chilly winter air, me in my moon boots, hands in our pockets. We got in the car but instead of driving down the parking garage, he starts to go up. At this point, I'm thinking, "Maybe he's taking me to blow bubbles again!" After driving to the very top, I proceed to put on my cold weather gear, his gloves, his scarf, and a silly hat. We do blow bubbles. The sky is foggy and beautifully lit up. At this point, my memory starts to faze out and my feelings start to take over. I remember he started telling me how important I was. And then we hugged. And before I know it, he is down on one knee.

Luke: Dani, will you be my wife?
Dani: Crying crying, nodding nodding, crying crying nodding nodding.



After I've slightly composed myself I ask him to put it on me. He opens up a 25 cent plastic bubble and then slides a ring onto my left hand. He says something like:

Luke: I looked everywhere for you for a vending machine ring. They don't make them anymore. I hope this will work. I found it at Salvation Army for $2.50.
Dani: Its PERFECT!!!!!

Promptly after some more hugging I get the urge to tell everyone how real this moment is, that my dream came true, that it happened to me. So I shouted from the proverbial mountain top, "I'M ENGAGED!!!" Luke later says that was his favorite part.

So there you have it. We are to be married. I'm going to be his wife. Cry, cry, nod nod.