These are the facts

Original post date: 30 April 2008

1. Two weekends ago, James and I went up to the "diamond district" in Los Angeles to look at rings. It was a pretty sketch-tastic affair, all of the jewelry stores seemed to operate on the same level of chintz and gaudiness. The window displays were crammed with rings and baubles and the windows themselves were drenched in knots of gold necklaces. It started looking like it was all costume jewelry being hawked as the real thing, and I didn't feel comfortable with buying anything there. I mean, one of the places had a big gold marijuana leaf pendant hanging in the window! That doesn't exactly scream "Classy jewelry store" to me.

2. So, disappointed (and a bit overwhelmed) by the diamond district, we drove down to Torrance to go to the Robbins Brother's store, allegedly the world's largest engagement ring store. James had already spoken with a guy there, and told him what he was looking for, and the guy was getting a ring shipped from Texas that matched James' specs. It wasn't going to be in the store yet, but we wanted to see what they had. It was a muuuuuch classier place, like a respectable jewelry store, not seeming at all like they buy their stuff out of the backs of trucks in some deep dark alley at 3 am. We saw a ring that was very similar to the ring that was being shipped, and I loved it. Love love loved it.

3. Last Wendesday, we went back to Robbin's Brothers and saw The Ring. The guy brought it out and showed it to us, then handed it to me and said, "Well, try it on." I did, and it was absolutely perfect in every way.

4. As soon as I slipped the ring on my finger, I started to cry.

5. That day, we selected a diamond.

6. Last Friday, James snuck back to Robbin's Brothers and paid for the ring.

7. The sneaking was unnecessary since he couldn't help but tell me about it over the weekend.

8. On Monday, he went back Robbins Brothers again and picked up the ring.

9. Yesterday, he called my parents and asked for my hand.