Proposing to My Man

Before a few weeks ago, when McG and I started talking about "the reunion" everyday, I was actually planning to propose to him. I knew he wanted to ask me but I also know my man and it takes him FOREVER to follow through with a decision. I was going to give him until our 4 year anniversary and than pop the question myself.

Then a couple of weeks ago we started talking plans. And starting saying things like "when" instead of "if" and "our wedding" instead of "a wedding." So I decided to take it one step farther and in the middle of dinner I just blurted out "How about Septembe 2010?". McG: "For what?" Me: "For our wedding." McG: "That sounds like a good date."

Oh. My. God. I thought. We're engaged! I wanted to tell everyone! Well, it turns out his thinking is we're not officially engaged until HE asks ME. What???!!? I consider myself a feminist and I always thought McG and I were on the same wave length. Proposals are sexist and getting engaged should be something a couple discusses, right? Well, we talked/fought about it and now I understand that it's important for him to do something special for me because he loves me. Not because he thinks it's his role to be "the decider". And it's not like we haven't talked about it a million times and it's not like there's any question that I won't say yes.

Then last night I confessed that I had planned on proposing thinking that it's obviously out of the question now. "Oh, you could have proposed to me. That would have been nice." Heh?

So we're back to Plan A (or A.1). I want to have something ready for when he proposes so that I can propose at the same time. Make sense?

Now here is where you come in. What is a good engagement ring subsitute? I've heard a watch but McG doesn't wear a watch and probably wouldn't even if I bought him one. Cufflinks? I kind of want that to be the wedding present. Any ideas?

{Photo from Robert Ryan}