If there were a planet between Earth and Mars that took 415 days to orbit the sun and we were blessed with living on it together, this New Year’s greeting would be on time.

It would still be the evening of January 1st, 2020. My laptop’s white-gloved-hand icon would be poised over the publish button, primed to press and send this post wishing you a very

❤ Happy New Year ❤
~ With best wishes for the next 416 days (it’s a leap year folks) ~
Let’s toast to a year overflowing with joy, health, and prosperity…
a year in which we learn to play well together.

In this timely post I’d also have shared the joyful news that my third son had finally proposed marriage to his beautiful, smart, warm-hearted girlfriend.

I’d have related how, for months, the whole family had taken turns in helping choose the ring, plot the perfect scenario, and exact place on our tour of Rajasthan over the holidays where he should pop the question.

I’d have told you we all agreed on the grounds of the Taj Mahal, but Nick, preferring a private rather than public display of his intention, decided on

a hotel balcony with the greatest testimony to love looking on from a distance instead. Hmmm, did the story behind my own engagement  have anything to do with it? Doubtful.

But after spending 40 uncomfortable minutes in self-imposed internment in our hotel room toilet to give the couple privacy, we were beginning to wonder.

“What’s taking so long?”

“Could she have said no ?”

“Go check on them.”

“No, you go check.”

“I don’t want to interrupt them.”

“It’s been 40 minutes. I’m hungry. We have dinner reservations.”

“Ohhhhhh…all right.”

It turns out, she said yes right away. They just lost track of time. As is wont of young love, I suppose.

CONGRATULATIONS
Nick and Jen

(even the hotel got in on the act)

❤

What a perfect story for Valentine’s day, too!
Hope you have a happy one…only 44 days to go.
Or 359, depending on what planet you’re on.

❤ Be Well, My Friends ❤