The Perfect Proposal

No, not mine, at least not yet.

But I incedulously read at Manolo for the Brides about a whole magazine (Engagement 101) being written to provide tips on how to propose. Except the thing is geared towards women and men probably won't even know it exists and all it's going to do is build unrealistic and unnecessary expectations for what a proposal should be like. Those poor guys don't stand a chance if their girlfriend is reading that magazine.

Jinxie wrote a bit about proposals a month ago (Rings do not go in food). I've even talked about it a bit before (Greed and Disgust).

I offer here the two necessary requirements for a perfect proposal.

1. A man and a woman who love each other, a lot.
2. A man and a woman who know each other as best as they possibly can, really know each other. (This of course means that you will continue to get to know each other for the rest of eternity because we are all rather complex creatures.)

Anything more than that is unnecessary. If the girl (and I use that term on purpose) absolutely will not say yes unless the man flies her to Paris or buys her 100 roses or something completely ridiculous, she's not mature enough to get married and the guy is actually better off with her saying no.

If they truly do know each other, then the man will know the exact perfect thing to do for his woman, and it will be beautiful and romantic for how well it fits their relationship.

I like watching the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces. Barabara Streisand's character Rose says, "I tell you what I envy about people in love - I'd love it if someone knew me, really knew me. What I like, what I'm afraid of, what kind of toothpaste I use. I think that would really be wonderful."

That's what I'm waiting for. Some day someone will really know me, and he won't need a glossy magazine to tell him how to propose.