"And that's the way it's done!!!"

The four of us were sitting quietly on the bench in the garden.

Waiting.

The plan, so far had been implemented perfectly.

Timing was crucial.

And so was the canine participation.

Then around the corner and up the path Ethan came.  Fist in the air saying..."and that's the way it's done!....that's the way it's done!!"  He was so excited.  The plan had worked perfectly....even better than they had planned.

Jon wanted the families to be involved in this special weekend.  He was going to propose, under the Brooklyn Bridge, on their way to the River Cafe.  Otis, Jon's chocolate labrador, was a big part of the plan.  Ethan was to tie with a pink ribbon, the engagement ring (Grandma Nordberg's engagement ring) to Otis's collar and have Otis tied up to one of the park benches.  They would come upon Otis and she would see the ring and say "yes!!"

Ethan, coming from work in his suit, secured Otis from the Suburban, tied the ring to the collar and Otis to the designated bench and proceeded to hide in the bushes.

People started passing by wondering out loud who this dog was and if they should call the police.  Ethan, from the bushes giving hand signals, indicated that Otis was part of an engagement strategy and that everyone should act normally.  Then everyone wanted to linger and witness the event.  One older couple got so excited that they indicated to Ethan that they would take pictures and just pretend that they were taking pictures of the scenery.  Ethan quickly reached into his breast pocket and gave them his business card, securing promises that they would send him the pictures.

Otis, of course, behaved perfectly, knowing his role in this adventure.  Jon and Jill came upon this dog sitting quietly beneath the Brooklyn Bridge.  Jon proposed, Jill said yes and the ring fit perfectly on Jill's finger.  And 75 people who just happened to be milling around the Brooklyn Bridge broke out into a round of applause.

She still did not know that her folks and we were sitting just a few hundred yards away.  They came up the path to the restaurant garden and we jumped up and shouted "surprise!!"  More tears of joy as she saw her mom and dad, Rob, Ethan and myself waiting to congratulate them on their engagement.

The folks at the restaurant joined in our celebration with champagne, wine and a special dessert of the Brooklyn Bridge made from chocolate with "congratulations" written on a square of chocolate.

It was magical from start to finish.  And then we proceeded to have a wonderful weekend filled with a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, picnics, a swim in the waves of the Atlantic on a beach on Robert Moses State Park, a trip to Manhattan and Broadway to see Newsies, a Sunday at Redeemer and brunch on the sidewalk cafe on the upper east side.

Perfect.  We reluctantly said goodbye.  A trip back north, a new week filled with responsibilities, and dreams for the future.

The weekend was too short.  And we need to be closer.  But those are things for the future.  And plans for the upcoming event are already being made.