The FI was constantly talking about marriage.  I on the other hand felt that I was not ready since I wanted to complete my degree.  The idea of marriage was far off from my mind at the time he started talking about marriage.  Aside from the fact that I was also scared to leave my family since the FI clearly had stated from the beginning of our relationship that he hated LA (the traffic most of all).  Since my dad suffered a heart attack two years ago.  There was no way I was going to move far from my family. 

Not only until last year did I mention to my gf's that I was ready to be engaged since at that time I knew I was going to graduate.  There were three instances that I could've found out that the FI was ready to propose.  Luckily, I didn't pay attention to them.  Looking back, how could I have I missed it?  Then again I was probably in denial since I have been firm w/ him that there was no way I was going to live far from the family. 

Well, I finally graduated last year.  For my graduation gift, the FI and decided that we were going to go on our first cruise to Cabo San Lucas. 

The "proposal" occurred during the night of the Captain's Dinner, September 12th.  We had the later dinner time for the captain's dinner and decided to walk around the ship. 

We eventually ventured off to the lounge where they were having kareoke night.  The FI apparently likes to sing kareoke (although he doesn't have the voice, but don't tell him that), and I've never seen him do it.  We sat for a couple of minutes, when I suggested for him to sing since we didn't know a single soul at that cruise.  He obliged and started walking up to pick his song! hahaha.  I asked, "So what song did you pick?"  He replied, "Oh, you'll see."  I knew that it was going to be awhile before they call him up to sing and since I was getting nervous for him I asked him to get us a couple of drinks. 

Ten minutes later...I was starting to wonder..Where the heck is he?  Is it that busy at the bar?  I wasn't about to represent for him.  Lo and behold, in he comes w/ my drinks.  Yes, plural.  I needed it since he was going to sing and I was really nervous for him!  So finally, they called him up.  He started singing, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. 

At this point, I was honestly a little tipsy and started taking pictures of my honey rooting him on.  Once the song ended, he started talking.  Then I was mortified and thought.  Get off the stage!! I was thinking he was going to try and say some kind of joke to the crowd.  My FI is a very funny guy.  I wouldn't have been surprised if he tried to make the audience laugh.  But not so.  He just started talking and there was just complete silence in this room full of 50-75 people.  "I dedicate that song to my beautiful girlfriend.  You have been wonderful to me all these years and you have made me so happy.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's about time that I do this.  He slowly gets down on his knee and looks at the direction of the booth I was sitting at.  "Will you marry me?"  Everyone applauded and was telling me to walk up there.  I was still in shock.  But I made my way up there.  Tipsy and all.  He asked again, "So, will you marry me?"  and I responded, "Of course, I will.  Yes!" 

Unfortunately, there are no pics of him proposing to me.  The lady that sat next to us didn't know how to operate our camera and I was too much in shock to even bother asking anyone to do so.  But all in all the FI totally surprised me.  He later told me that he was definitely going to propose sometime during our cruise.  He didn't have a specific plan on how.  Little did I know that I would actually set up the proposal for him.  It was so sweet and just perfect!