One year ago I flew home to be with Blake and my family for the Fourth of July. After spending the day enjoying cookouts, Blake suggested we go to dinner at Hemenways to   watch the   fireworks in   Providence and visit   WaterFire.   WaterFire was one of Blake and my favorite things to enjoy together while living in Providence, so I thought the idea was wonderful… Little did I know!

We arrived at Hemenways and enjoyed a wonderful meal overlooking the water.  As the sun began to set we could see the blue lit-up stars of Starry, Starry Night hanging from all of the trees. After dinner I asked Blake if we could  go  see  the  stars  because they  were beautiful, and he agreed. As we began walking to the field there were Luminaria candle lanterns  all  along  the  walkways,  each illuminating a written dedication. Blake stopped and said "let’s read some." As my gaze turned to a dedication reading "Forever my partner in crime…  Dancing  the  night  away in  South Beach," I realized that they were about us.  They recounted special moments and memories that the two of us had shared together.

The candlelit path led us to a circle full of a dozen Luminaria each with a special memory. In the middle hung a blue lit star with a ribbon hanging from it. Blake led me to the star at the center of the circle and asked me what the ribbon said. As I turned to read it, now with tears in my eyes, I read "Christie, will you marry me?"   I turned back to Blake and there he was, on one knee, holding a beautiful ring. He did say something at this point; God help me if I know what that was as  I was shaking so much. Now, mind you, I thought every girl’s first reaction was to say "Yes!"  Well, I was so excited I couldn’t  even  speak. Finally  he whispered "if you say yes I can get up," at which point it hit me to yell "Yes of course!"

You would think the excitement ended there, but it didn’t. As he stood up two men holding bright torches led us by firelight over a bridge and to a private area just for us.  Here  there  was a bottle  of champagne on ice  awaiting us with two glasses.    Just as we popped the bottle the fireworks began.

Blake later explained that he had talked with Barnaby and that WaterFire had helped him arrange the evening through their Celebrate program.

WaterFire will forever have a special place in both of our hearts. I know I have said it before,  but thank you again to everyone at WaterFire for  making my engagement a wonderful experience.

-Christie Sylvia