Dan and Monika’s Engagement Party

Friday, the 13th of February 2009 is Monika’s Birthday. To celebrate, her boyfriend Dan threw her a surprise party (everyone now, “aww!”).  At Agora’s in Irvine, we sat chit-chatting while waiting for the arrival of the guest of honor. We all gathered to witness the turning of a new year of our wonderful comrade, Monika. When they walked in there was no big “SURPRISE!” bellowed as the formal guests of the restaurant would probably be offended, the restaurant would then be forced to kick us out and the evening would be ruined. Much to her credit, she was surprised and delighted just the same without the shouting.

We enjoyed a fabulous feast of salad, tri-tip, fillet, lamb, chicken, sirloin and birthday cake. When we all started to lean far back in our chairs and evaluate our individual intoxication levels from food an wine, Dan excused himself to “grab something from the truck.” He came back bearing a card with a heartfelt letter. He beckoned her to come and start reading her birthday cards. She, (from all the party excitement) could not read. Dan, being a gentleman, read them aloud for her. You can see from some of the pictures, she enjoyed them very much. Then she picked up Dan’s card, which turned out was a memory from the past; a card he had given her once before will now possibly be kept forever. Dan opened his card began read his heart to her; the time that they have shared together have been priceless to him, she is his special gift and he is so thankful to have her, she’d made him a happy man thus far and he only had four more words to ask of her…we all knew what was coming but still we held our breath. Monika still had no idea! She picked up the card to reread what she had heard. Then out of his pocket came the box—stunned, you could see her surprise from behind the card. Her eyes filled with tears—“Monika, will you marry me?” She gasped and cried–they kissed and hugged–then repeated that sequence several times. I never actually heard her say, “yes!” but there is no doubt that she did. Take a look for yourself: here’s a small timeline of the evening through pictures. Congratulations you two!