That was a running joke I had while we were courting. When I got the ring (nice quality diamond with 2 sapphires on either side, just as she had wanted and written in some notebook she had that I saw years before), I got a bag of Cracker Jack (it's more difficult to find an actual box of CJ than I thought). My mother pulled the gift, placed the ring inside, and resealed both the little gift pouch and the bag.

One evening after work we go out to the mall in Tyson's Corner, VA as I needed some dress shoes. While walking between stores, I produce the bag of CJ. Oblivious to everything, she simply shares the bag with me. When she got to the prize, the little joke card was there...

But no ring.

I go into a walking heart attack, as I'm trying to remain calm, keep my poker face and internally dying as I contemplate having lost a huge chunk of money on a ring that I have no idea where it could be. I hurriedly (but as calmly as possible) stuck my hand in the bag and rifled through every caramel covered kernel until I felt the ring, which must have fell from the prize pack as we were jostling the bag back and forth. Needless to say, a HUGE wave of relief washed over me, although by that point I probably had worried 5 years off my lifespan

Anyway, she finally has eaten enough of the CJ and pulls out the ring with her handful of snack. It takes her a few seconds to realize what she was looking at, but then it hit her. I got down on one knee right in the middle of the mall and popped the question. A few people were around and noticed and clapped, but it wasn't about them at all. All I saw was her

Afterward she called both our parents and her best friend. All of them already knew (I had asked her father for permission to marry her a few weeks before, talked to her mother before that, and my parents were already in on it). I had reservations at McCormick & Schmick's and her best friend (and Maid of Honor), my best friend (and Best man) and a few others were already there. Everybody basically was in on it but her. It was wonderful.

15 years and counting

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
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Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...