It was Sunday morning in late June and we had just returned to the Bay Area after spending the weekend looking at places to rent in Manhattan Beach and seeing some friends. We had reached our two-year dating anniversary and, even though that is a substantial amount of time by many measures, we didn’t think much of it, since for both of us, two years still felt like the beginning of the relationship.

Dan told me he wanted to see my parents and go for a hike in Marin as he hadn’t seen either that much after taking a job in LA. I was tired and cranky, but Dan convinced me it would be fun. Plus, he promised a pit stop for caffeine en route… so away we went!

We drove to my parents’ place, drank tea and chatted in the back yard. At one point both Dan and my mom were in the kitchen, and when I went inside to get more tea, I saw that my mom had tears in her eyes. She gathered herself and said she was sad that I was moving to LA with Dan, but in reality the tears were flowing because Dan had just sought her permission to ask me to marry him. My mom quickly took me outside (whispering to Dan out of my earshot, “so you can be alone with Michael”) and we chatted by the pool. Dan nonchalantly returned to the kitchen to talk to my dad, Michael, and ask him for his permission. My dad said “congrats” at which point he said that he wasn’t sure I would say yes! Then he asked “when are you going to do it?” “Today”, Dan said. My dad, shocked, said “Whoa! well you know her pretty well at this point, so good luck.” Unbowed, Dan forged ahead. As we gathered our things my mom and dad surreptitiously handed Dan a wine opener as they shook hands.

It was getting late and the light was not going to last for long. We decided to go for a hike to one of my all-time favorite places, which just so happened to be on the way back to San Francisco. This hike is one of the lesser-known trails to Rodeo Beach that I only take my favorite people to. It starts on a bluff, leads you on a circuitous route through wild sea grass and grazing deer, and deposits you on a dark, raw, quintessentially Northern California beach. This walk is especially sentimental to me because, throughout childhood, I hiked it often with my best friend, her parents, and her dogs (the sea grass and deer have been privy to some of my most intimate stories). And, when I was a kid, I wanted to get married in the bunkers nearby. I have many fond and carefree memories of Rodeo Beach. Dan couldn’t have chosen a better place to propose.

On this day, June 30, 2008, the air was wet, windy and cloudy. No one was around and it was as if Dan had reserved the place just for us. As we walked, we admired all of our favorite vistas, strategized on my pending move to LA, and laughed a lot. Dan seemed nervous, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. We got down to the beach and started to make our way across by climbing the rough, black rocks and dodging the waves. I got into it and before I knew it Dan was calling me over. He said he wanted me to see the view from the rock he was on. When I arrived to the rock, Dan said, ”I want us to be together forever and I think we will make great life partners - will you marry me?” Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box with my engagement ring inside. The rock was so clear and pure, I thought it might have been glass. He told me it was emerald-cut to go with the emerald jewelry he had given me at various stages throughout our relationship. I stopped breathing and for a minute was so shocked I couldn’t speak. Then a wave crashed around our rock and I realized Dan was still waiting for an answer. In disbelief, I fumbled through, “Of course, of course, yes!”

We hiked back to the car, saw a huge beetle on the way back (which the ancient Egyptians believed brings good luck in transitions), and poured ourselves a plastic cup full of the red wine my parents had given Dan in anticipation of this moment. Then we took a minute to get composed (we were so giddy!), and called our parents. I told my dad, “It just feels right”. And it did.