we lived in KY at the time and she got accepted to a dance festival in Brooklyn. We made a big deal out of it.

My fam and her fam came to NYC for the show but really they were there for the proposal

After the show we went to Olive Garden in Times Square. I know, I know.. how dare we eat at such a place. Anyway, I had her ring made by a family friend in the way she described it when we talked about rings because she said she wanted something different.

Man, it took so long to get seated I couldn't wait any longer so I asked her to walk with me. Got down on one knee in Times Square, realized I was standing over a grate so I had to move cause I didn't want the ring to fall like in the movies.

Got on one knee, told her how I felt and why I waited so long to propose.

Some woman in a Pathfinder screamed out SAY YES!!!

She did.

We came back the restaurant and everyone was already seated and we had a nice dinner. It was the first and last time our mothers got to see each other. Shit was magical.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*