(Told from Joe's point of view)

I had been working with a good friend of the family (Sity K.) in the design of the engagement ring for almost 3 months when we finally decided on the final look and size. Sity added a few design features to make the ring truly unique. When I got to see it for the first time, I was so excited that I wanted to give it to her right away. I just knew she was going to love it! I always knew that I wanted to wait until September 9, 2009 because of the signifigance of the number 9 in the buddhist culture though, so I had to hide it until the time was right. I hid it next to her bed for almost an entire month, of course I would pull it out to look at it excitedly every time I had a chance. A week before the 9th, Pon had to go into the hospital. The dr decided that due to the pain and gallstones, her gallbladder had to come out. To add to Pon's discomfort, she was not allowed to eat for one week before and one week after her surgery, per Dr's orders. This meant
that her first meal with solid food would fall on September 9th, 2009. For being so brave, I promised to take her out for a special dinner under the guise that it would be celebration of her obeying the dr's order. Little did she know of the "REAL" reason for the dinner date. As the night approached we prepared for a romantic dinner for two at a restaurant of her choice, Salt Rock Grill on Indian Rocks Beach. We were escorted to a beautiful table on the water where Pon proceeded to take full advantage of her first meal in weeks. As I tried to eat my dinner, the ring was burning a whole in my pocket. Pon indulged on a 2 lb. grilled lobster tail dinner with all the sides. She was so happy! To top it all off, she about jumped out of her seat when our wait mentioned that tonight's dessert was..... Mango Creme Brulee (our favorite). After a few pictures we took a small trip to the beach where she grew up, Redington Beach.

I could not have planned it better as the stars were out, and a storm could be seen out in the gulf. As lightning lit up the sky in the distance we noticed rays feeding in the shallow of each wave. They were so close we could almost touch them. At one point, they would come in so close onto the beach that they would be stranded on the sand until the next wave splashed over them. It was so beautiful out. By this time I was so excited that I don't even remember everything that happened. I do remember that as I helped her up, she looked at me and said thank you for wonderful night and for always being there for her. Fortuitously, she added "promise you'll never leave me", as she asked that; I pulled out the ring and said "As long as you promise to love me forever". Pon was in shock and just held me while she teared up with joy. We held eachother and told eachother we loved one another. I was still holding the ring out and she said, "You know you still
haven't actually asked me though" We both laughed, cried and I officially asked her to marry me. She said yes and placed the ring on her finger. It was a perfect ending to a perfect night. Of course, between all of the excitement and the monster meal she ate, Pon ended up back in the hospital the next day. This time however she smiled the whole time as she wore the engagement ring I had given her and I was by her side.