The Story of Our Engagement
Table of Contents
Editor Note
Prequel - Leanne and Pete Meet
After graduating from Kansas State University in 2007, Leanne took a position at the Union Pacific Railroad working in the Information Technologies department. It was there, she met the man of her dreams: Pete Wetzel. A chiseled, dapper looking seven year veteran of the UP, they worked on the same team together and even shared their office space, being only two cubes away from each other.
They struck up an instant friendship, sharing jokes and enjoying the finer points of Omaha. It was here where love would ultimately find them. After a night of burning the midnight oil late at work together (Editor note: it was 5:30pm) in September 2008, Pete asked Leanne out. Not as friends, but "on a date." Giddy Leanne quickly accepted and they spent a romantic evening in the historic neighborhood of Dundee. It was a beautiful night: sampling a few local drinks in a small brew pub, dining at the exquisite Mark's in Dundee, and taking a romantic stroll after stopping by the ice creamery.
From there, they never looked back...
Sleepless in Seattle
In February of 2010, the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, on the lush forest covered west coast of Canada, was to host the Olympic Winter Games. With being an avid hockey fan and Olympic nut, a work software release to happen in the Seattle area, and it occurring in his favorite place in North America: the emerald city and pacific northwest, it became a "perfect storm" of events that Pete could not let slip by.
The two took off a week in February to visit the opening days and Olympic torch in Canada, stay on the wharf of Seattle & enjoying the most exquisite seafood, drive the pacific coast highway around the peninsula of Washington, and enjoy the local hospitality of Portland, Oregon. It was a experience so rich, it required a run-on sentence to describe. An experience so wonderful, it couldn't have happened with anyone else in his life. And it was then, he knew it wasn't the experience, but her, that made it so unforgettable. After two and a half years together, Pete wanted Leanne to be in his life forevermore; Pete wanted to marry Leanne.
The Fellowship (err Gathering) of the Ring
The naming of this section was no arbitrary choice. The journey Pete was about to undertake, getting the perfect ring, asking her for Leanne's parents for permission, and choosing the best way to propose, became a much more of daunting, tireless, and seemingly quest than Frodo Baggins and his buddies had in their trilogy of great movies (yes, I know the movies are based off of a series of books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Argue that on another site). It required massive amounts of research, careful listening, and a whole lot of deception to pull this one off. And that is if everything goes perfect... which it didn't.
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Going with a local jeweler that specialized in getting diamonds in at wholesale was a mile marker of that road. After carefully questioning a select sampling of Leanne's friends who could keep a secret, Pete found out what size, style, gold color, cut, etc that Leanne always wanted in a ring. Thinking he could bypass the mall chop shops and finding a ma-and-pa jeweler who would make it special for us, Pete found such a man who only took appointments by referral.
Pete was very excited to meet this highly referred man, to learn about diamonds without using the cookie-cutter spiel that he would get at major chain outlets and be able to get uniqueness also not found at the mall. What Pete met was man who wore a "1996 Sturgis Rally" t-shirt, smoked menthols, and asked if it was ok if he took his "medication" during their meeting. This medication consisted of a bottle of Vodka below his desk. Why Pete decided to still go with this guy, we'll never know.
Next, Pete needed to figure out what how he was going to do it. He thought long and hard about what would be a romantic and unique way of presenting his love for Leanne for all of eternity, and finally it came to him. What better way to say that I love you until the end of time like carving it into stone? And in this case, a brick! Imagine walking along and stopping by a walkway that had a special stone that said "Leanne, Will You Marry Me? -Pete" Searching high and low for where there would be a memorial walkway or wall that Pete could put this message in became quite a task. A task that would take the finest help in all of the land to help accomplish. Enter Kristi Schoen. When she's not beating down angry republicans and employing sketchy workers in the gulf cleanup effort, she becomes a master researcher.
Kristi and Pete combed through leads of world war II memorials in North Carolina to High School Gymnasiums in Omaha, but nothing seemed like a "romantic" spot to permanently memorialize his proposal. When all looked bleak, Kristi found it. Lauritzen Gardens, a botanical center in Omaha that Leanne has a membership to, but has never visited. In fact, got a year membership because she loves photography and thought it would be a beautiful place to shoot, but never went. This was perfect! (Thanks again Kristi!) After buying a membership, many lunchtime visits to inspect the best placement, and making a donation to botanical society, the brick is ordered and on it's way. All the while, Pete hasn't heard back from his jeweler. A jeweler who has supposedly has ordered his ring....
And for the final pillar, Pete wanted to ask for the hand of their daughter in marriage. He had to plan it so that Leanne wouldn't be suspicious, and believe you me, it was hard. Pete would have to take a 6am to 3pm shift on a Tuesday, Leanne's Bible Study night, and drive down to Kansas City to meet her parents for dinner and then drive back. All of this while wearing a business suit and tie in a car with no air conditioning in 105 degree heat. Knowing that her parents would insist that they come up or at least would meet him half way, Pete wouldn't have any of it; so he lies and says in Kansas City on business and wanted to see if they wanted to have dinner. Maybe starting off on a lie wasn't a great idea, but John and Laura seemed impressed with a suited albeit sweaty man who wanted to have dinner and enjoy their company. As the dinner conversation went on, Pete said "I have a question to ask you both." With Laura leaning in, a huge smile on her face, and John swaying back with his eyes getting wider, they both anticipated the question (Scholars later theorize that John assumed the question was going to be that Pete had left his wallet in the car and if they could pick up the check). So he asks... and they say yes. Dinner of small talk goes to details about the proposal, the brick, and the ring. A ring that still is missing and now the jeweler isn't returning phone calls... tension mounts
Final Countdown to the Proposal
The botanical garden called Pete once the brick came in. They had every woman in the office on the phone asking details about how he was going to propose and complained about how unromantic their boyfriends/husbands were. Still to this day, if someone shoots Pete a dirty look or cuts him off in traffic, he feels that it might very well be one of those ladies' significant other giving him a little payback. Once the brick was placed, all Pete had to do was set the plan and get the ever missing ring.
Laura was wonderful in helping out with the planning. She told Pete that she could find a weekend that would be best to get Leanne's sister and brother-in-law, Kara and Josh, in town so they could celebrate. Pete planned on proposing to Leanne on an early Saturday morning, celebrating with his family for lunch/early dinner in Omaha, and then driving to Kansas City to celebrate with her family Saturday night and Sunday morning. The weekend would be contain beautiful sunny days and no other previously scheduled plans. Now if he just had the ring.
T-minus one week until proposal and not only has this guy not called Pete back, but when Pete finally stalks him down, he acts like he never met Pete. Heartbroken, Pete officially giving up on the jeweler, Pete confides in his misery to his friend Susan Stevens (at one time known as just "Paubs"). She suggests going to Nebraska Diamond and that she had a wonderful experience there, they could help him out in a short notice situation. Pete calls and instantly connects to a great salesman in Alan. Alan tells Pete to come down to Lincoln after work and pick one out and he promises it will be ready before that weekend. Weary from his previous experience, Pete proceeded with cautious optimism as he met with Alan. Alan quickly calmed his fears and told him that under no circumstances would he not get his ring on time. That would be tested as the day before the proposal (Friday), Pete got held up at work and couldn't make it down to Lincoln until after their shop closed. Alan sprung into action and told Pete that he'd drive up to Omaha, deliver the ring, and finish the paperwork there. Superb service that Pete will never forget.
Everything now seemed to fall into place. It was Perfect... except for Leanne.
Laura and Pete both thought it would be prudent to let Leanne in on the fact that her sister would be in Kansas City and should come visit. The thought was that she could have her things packed and prepared for a weekend trip. This almost backfired as she wanted to immediately leave Friday after work to spend as much time with her sister. Not taking no for an answer, Pete had to secretly contact Laura and tell her the situation. Immediately Laura springs into action, calling Leanne to tell her that she would be out Friday and also having Kara tell Leanne that she wouldn't be around until Saturday. In mere minutes after he confides into Laura with his problem, Pete gets a call from Leanne. "I guess we won't go down until Saturday" Leanne tells Pete in a sad tone. He tries to console her all the while trying to hide his amazement in quick disastery response his possible future-mother-in-law has. "So, I'm thinking we leave early Saturday morning" Leanne continues. And back into the same problem we were in before. This time, Pete tries his own hand and deception and quickly goes to the Lauritzen Gardens web site in hopes to find something that was "This Weekend Only" in order to get her to stay at least for a quick viewing of that. Behold, he finds one: Raptor Exhibit. "But there is a raptor exhibit this weekend! And it's ONLY this weekend! I really want to see it!" he pleads. "Why?" Racing quickly to come up with an answer, "Because I wrote a paper on them in middle school and it means so much to me. If you truly loved me and wanted to understand who I really am, you'd go see them with me!" Shocked and Google-ling "Raptors", Leanne responds with "Umm ok." Relieved and also Google-ling "Raptors" to see what the heck they are (hint: they are not from Jurassic Park), Pete believes he survived a bullet.
Pete made sure they arrived early at the gardens; he wasn't sure how crowded it would be on a Saturday morning paired with a highly-touted Raptor exhibit. Much to his dismay, the Raptor exhibit was at the beginning of the park; far away from where the brick was located. Leanne, of course, wanted to see the exhibit and go. With her camera in hand, she already had the lens cap off and ready to shoot the birds so we could get on the road. Thinking quick on his feet again, Pete suggested they also see a special train exhibit that they have in their model train area in the back of the gardens. "Hey, I almost forgot Leanne. I think this week has 'Railroad Days' and they were supposed to have a special Challenger locomotive out." Leanne was known to be a notorious "foamer" (a rail industry term for serious railroad fans. It is said that these people get so excited about trains, that they foam at the mouth) and couldn't pass up this opportunity.
Reluctantly agreeing, she proceeds in what would turn out to be a over 100 degree heat day all the way out to the model train exhibit. While this excuse bought time and got them closer to the brick, Pete knew that sooner or later Leanne was going to notice that this special locomotive wasn't going to appear on the tracks. She had set up her tripod and waited... and waited... as Pete scrambled to think of something next. So, in a desperate Hail Mary, Pete tries a unorthodox approach: "You know, that was last week. I got my dates wrong. Sorry." Now, it could have been the heat against her fair skin, but Leanne turned three shades of red, quickly surpassing the shade of her hair has as she rose up out of her photography stance and stared at Pete. Survival instincts would have told you to run, but Pete stood tall. One might think it was because he loved her so much and wanted to see it though, others might suggest his survival skills was to play dead and hope Leanne thought the kill was already made. Needless to say, Pete goes on to suggest "Hey, lets walk back this other way... it's more shaded and scenic!"
Where they once were walking hand in hand, Leanne walked yards ahead Pete. Lighthearted suggestions of checking out beautiful flowers and trees along the way were met with cold hostility as they marched onward towards the front of the garden and parking lot. While this path would take the right next to the Garden of Memories and the location of the brick, many variables still were out there. What if she wouldn't stop? What if there is a bunch of people over there playing on the bench in front of the brick? Watch there be raptor poop on it! These were many of the thoughts racing through Pete's mind as they quickly approached the mark.
"Leanne, it's pretty hot out. Can we sit for a few minutes just to catch my breath?" Pete asked as they got in front of the walkway. "Ugh... FINE" she replied lovingly. Now I don't care who you are, but no one could have planned what happened next. Not Pete, not the Garden Staff, not nobody. With all of the trees surrounding the walkway in front of the fountain, only one bench offered shade. In every other visit Pete had made to the place, this was the one bench that never had shade. He didn't think it'd be an issue, so he didn't say anything. But in this case, it became crucial. The one bench that offered shade was also the same bench that was in front of the brick. Leanne didn't ask Pete to pick a spot, she just went to that bench to sit down and waited for him. While Pete "caught his breath", Leanne's attention turned to the bricks on the ground...
She said "Yes!"
"'In memory of George Smith', 'To my late husband Earl -Candice"... Wow, these are depressing" Leanne observed. Pete defended the bricks. "I don't know if all of them are, Leanne" and she kept reading. Slowly she moved closer and closer to the brick that inscribed Pete's love for her. "Leanne- Will you marry me? Pete... Hey, they have the same names we do!" Leanne exclaimed and proud of her quick connection. "Wait, why are you getting down on one knee?? What are you... OH MY GOD oh my god (repeat that about 10 more times)". "Leanne, will you marry me?" Pete said with hope in his heart and a smile on his face "Oh my god!!! (repeat 5 more times) I have a brick!!! Oh my god!!! (repeat 3 more times) I have a ring!!" Pete clarifies any confusion with "Umm... it's a yes or no question."
"YES!! Oh my god Yes!" Leanne exclaims. The red of anger had been replaced with the blush of joy on her face. So much range of emotion broke Leanne down to tears. During the aftermath this joyous occasion, a couple walks by the fountain. Seeing Leanne crying and me getting up, it must have seemed like I was either breaking up with her or doing something severe to make her cry. Needless to say, he picks up his pace as they walk away from us. Out of the corner of Leanne's eye, she notices the man is also a photographer with a very expensive camera on his back shoulder. "Sir... Please sir... wait!" she pleads. He stops but doesn't turn around, in fear of her request. "Sir, we just got engaged a few moments ago. My boyfriend...err fiance, has proposed to me with this brick. I was wondering if you could take our photograph?" This was the second 180 degree emotion turn of the day as he quickly smiled and called his wife back, who was halfway to the parking lot.
It would turn out that the couple were from a small town in Kansas. He was a local editor of their newspaper and they were on holiday up in Omaha. She was a Kansas State graduate and stayed in a house that was adjacent to Leanne's back in college. Immediately they stuck up conversations of their agriculture university with hands waiving in the air to depict great times they had there, so intensely that her husband had to remind her a few times that he needed Leanne to be still for the photograph. A wonderful couple who would later write about Pete and Leanne in their local paper.
Soon after that story was published, the couple sent a copy up to them: "To the recently engaged couple in Omaha, may they live happy ever after."