Before We Built Our Bomb Shelter

Written by Andrea Draper on 08/08/08

"So Congratulate us--It's a girl-in-law :) Jesse got down on one knee this morning--he has the sand on his suit to prove it--and proposed to Susan in part of our living room that he re-created out on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Jesse tied a yellow (her favorite color) ribbon around her finger that did the trick until they could get to Provo to a little antique shop Jesse thought had the perfect ring. After viewing the rings Jesse had put in the top five, Susan picked out the one that had been Jesse's favorite--diamonds in a platinum setting--created around 1920.

We all pitched in to help--Nels let Jesse drive his car--I made the movie he proposed with--Mica provided the car for the on-scene accomplices --Liz lent her portable DVD Player for playing the proposal, Toby loaded up all the furniture needed to create the scene, helped Jesse and I set up the living room, and sat out in the Salt Flats with me until after the proposal--then on cue from Jesse, went to take pictures of the happy couple. Even some neighbors down the street from us did their part. We actually don't know them, but they have the most beautiful flowers in their front yard. Jesse knocked on the door, explained his situation, and this adorable older couple met him in their yard this morning at 7 am and helped him create a beautiful bouquet of "Black-eyed-Susans."

After lunch at Ruth's diner, & driving to Provo for the ring, they are, as I write this, on their way to Logan to meet Susan's parents for dinner. . ."