How We Met
Honestly, the first time Aleisha and I met, she wanted to “kick me in the head.” She was a newly-hired science lab teaching assistant at West Elementary School. I was in my sixth year teaching fourth grade. It was the first day of school.
Apparently, I “waltzed” my class right into the science room and “took over.” Little did I know Miss Nelly was all excited to teach her first real class on her first real day of school as a real teacher. She had her little welcome speech all ready to go, and her little packet of handouts all set, and here I come, and in a matter of minutes it’s me who’s giving the kids the tour of the lab and their first real overview of the scientific method, not her. By the time I had left, Miss Nelly was as fired up, and probably as hot as ten Bunson burners.
We didn’t talk much after that for the next few weeks, and I guess you could say we have a fourth grade miscreant to thank for bringing us back together again. She was working the playground when one of my kids did something, and she trotted him in to my classroom and relayed what the offense had been. I took things from there, but afterward I went back out to the playground to thank her. Apparently that meant a lot to her, and she started seeing me in a whole new light. In the light of the playground, I thought she was pretty cute and probably shook her hand an awkward second or two longer than I should have. The rest, they say, is history.
We laugh about all that kicking in the head business, now. What Aleisha finds most amusing is that I found her at my elementary school—yes, I work at the very same school I once attended. I guess you could say I got a lot from West. I got friends. I got an education. And I got the love of my life. What else more could you ask out of a place? As for all that kicking in the head… She says she loves me now, so I guess that’s all that really matters. I like to think each day she gives me a “kick in the heart,” which is pretty cool, I guess.
How I Proposed
The idea for the ring came to me on a plane flight, somewhere high above Virginia. We were heading (where else) but to the beach to meet some friends for the weekend. I was sitting by the window, doing a little cloud watching and worrying over what kind of ring to give Aleisha. I knew I couldn’t give her a diamond as big as the Ritz but I still wanted to do something special. That’s when it hit me…the beach. If you know Aleisha you know she loves one thing more than anything else…Roy Carpenter’s Beach. I can understand why, too. Sitting on that beach with the sunshine going full blast, and the breeze in your face and the sounds of the waves crashing in front of you is just about the most peaceful moment you can have in this world. I could say the same thing about Aleisha when you’re hanging out with her. I figured the best ring for Aleisha had the sun, the sand, and the surf in it. Easier said than done. In case anyone is interested in repeating the feat, it takes about eight months to turn a beach into a ring, and all the patience your future fiancé can muster. It involves a lot of sketches on three by five notecards, some art history lessons, the rise and fall of platinum prices, and all the patience your future fiancé can muster. In the end though, it was worth it, because, as I told her, the second time I gave it to her, it was something beautiful and unique, just like her.
The ring literally went from the jeweler’s hand, to my pocket, to her finger. Of course, every girl is looking for that “perfect proposal.” But, because of the delay, there wasn’t much to our story. The actual proposal isn’t anything to write home about, or splatter all over the internet like this. Let’s just say there was one proposal on two feet, and then another one down on one knee. I guess love, like this ring, is a process; it’s an act of creation…and you’re glad when it’s over, not because it’s over, but because of what you get in the end: something pretty special. And that’s “perfect.”