He Said, She Said…The Ring Story

This is how HE remembers the all important event:
I tossed a ring at you, said, “you better say yes,” and then I burped.

This is what SHE remembers:
HE was hinting for over a week that he had decided what to give me for my Thanksgiving-Christmas-Valentines-Birthday Gift. On a day after four hours of sleep when I was in the middle of internship application deadlines, conference presentations, and faculty drama I came in to Huson just to get a hug-and-a-kiss from Michael before I went back to school. My hair was in a wigged out greasy ponytail, no makeup, clothes from the bottom of the laundry basket, and my deodorant was probably not even working. Michael didn’t notice how much of a mess I was, as he proudly displayed his first buck of the season. Heck, he was mucked up himself with deer guts.

I wondered why he was acting nervous when he dragged me downstairs but then HE said, “I’m not that good with words, so here you go…hope you say yes.” Sometime later after all the screaming and laughter, I realized later why I love him so much. I asked why he proposed on a day when I was a frightful mess and HE said, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT - YOU ARE GORGEOUS!?”

And that is OUR story

The Silly Story of How We Became

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, Joanna was born with the dream of growing up to be a ballerina, cowboy, or librarian. She dreamed of horses, rolling fields of pasture, azure skies, and a cowboy to call her own. After many well-traveled adventures and a variety of careers, Joanna decided to go to school to become a child psychologist and arrived in the Big Sky state.

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, Michael Bruce had a dream of flying airplanes and helicopters while saving the world from scary monsters. As a smarty pants smart-aleck he stunned his teachers and drove his mother crazy. Michael loved his dogs, horses, and discovering mysterious artifacts in junkyards. As a sharpshooter traveling the world, Michael jumped out of airplanes and other top secret stuff in the US Army. After 16 years of adventure he came back to Huson, MT to search high and low for his gorgeous wife-to-be.

Through our shared love of horses we first noticed each other. Our first date was at a county fair rodeo. Michael wooed Joanna through scenic hikes, horseback rides, and delicious homecooked meals. Michael used the Clinton Anderson behavioral desensitization techniques to soothe skittish Joanna as she was not used to such care and devotion. Michael doggedly pursued Joanna until she slowed down enough so that he could catch her. After scoring his first four point buck of the season, on October 28th 2008 Michael waved a shiny ring under her nose and Joanna said yes!