143

143 Days
or
201/2 weeks
or
5.125 moths until the big day!!

For those of you that remember pager codes, 143 = I LOVE YOU. Coincidence... I think not!!

It seems just like yesterday that we got engaged! In fact it was exactly 365 days ago. That's right... the proposal happened a year ago on Valentine's day, February 14th, 2006. Some have teased and said that is was a well thought out plan so that anniversaries would be easy to remember. But I assure you that's not the case. The truth is, it was all in the timing. Timing in terms of where we were in our relationship.

I suppose in terms of details I can't leave any out because the story wouldn't make much sense or wouldn't be as special. It was a surprise, but it wasn't spontaneous. I knew for about a month that I wanted to propose, but I wanted it to be different, special, something no one else had done. A good friend tried to point out that I was over thinking it, that I was looking for that special story, and that I should just propose without too much planning... "it doesn't matter" he said. But all of you that know me also know that NOT planning something goes against everything I've ever done.

We had been looking for a place to live together for sometime. I lived in the Sunset district with my mom and Joyce had her own loft in Potrero Hill. After a few years of going to and fro, I became to grow quite fond of the "dogpatch" and we decided that it's where we wanted to spend the next chapter of our lives.

Of course this change didn't just affect us. My mom was very sad to see me go. I had moved back to San Francisco in 2001 after my father's passing to keep her company and take care of her. I moved away from the Bay Area to Las Vegas for college in 1992. And now after 5 years of getting used to me being around, I was packing up and going again.

Joyce's parents had concerns of their own. Aside from the obvious of me being the right person for her, they wanted to make sure that, legally, both of us were protected. They asked that we enter into a contract so that there wouldn't be question should things go awry. It was a hard pill to swallow once Joyce told me. I wanted to tell her "doesn't she know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and that I want to marry you!?... I just have to make sure it's planned just right". Little did I know that the seed has just been planted for my idea to grow.

Most of you remember that Joyce travelled a lot for work (one of the greatest tests for our relationship). She had a business trip planned last year that would mean she would be away for Valentine's day. She called me to ask if we had any plans and if she should change or keep her itinerary. The wheels started turning and I told her to change her plans to be around if she could. But I acted as if I had totally forgotten and that it wasn't special to me.

Valentine's day was on a Tuesday and Joyce had to be on a plane VERY early the next morning. I made early dinner reservations at The Waterfront, which had a nice romantic atmosphere, good food, and was close enough to get home for her to pack and rest up for her flight afterwards. I played it out to be another run-of-the-mill, valentine's day dinner. But little did she know that I had planned an evening that would change our lives. Dinner turned out to be amazing! Food, wine, conversation, and aesthetics were hitting on all cylinders.

After dinner we went back to her loft, I told her to sit down. I told her that I had been thinking a lot lately of the contract that her parents wanted from us. She immediately frowned and said "I don't want to talk about this. We just had an amazing dinner and I have to get on a flight tomorrow. Let's talk about it when I get back". I insisted we talk about it now. I pulled out a document and told her I found it online and that I wanted her to read it over to make sure it was appropriate. Hesitantly she unfolded it and read the following:

GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

THIS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT is made this ___14th___ day of __February _ 2006, by and between Christian Rillera and Joyce Dragon.

Explanatory Statement
The parties hereto desire to enter into the business of purchasing, acquiring, owning and selling, including but not limited to that certain parcel of land, and all improvements constructed thereon, described as Loft #4, 1705 Indiana. In order to accomplish their aforesaid desires, the parties hereto desire to join together in a general partnership under and pursuant to the Uniform Partnership Act, amended from time to time.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, covenants, and agreements, and the Explanatory Statement, which Explanatory Statement is incorporated by reference herein and made a substantive part of this Partnership Agreement, the parties hereto do hereby promise, covenant and agree as follows:

Definitions
Throughout this Partnership Agreement, and unless the context otherwise requires, the word or words set forth below within the quotation marks shall be deemed to mean the words which follow them:

A. "Agreement" - The agreement to matrimony.

B. "Partner" - Each person in mutual agreement to unconditionally love and cherish the other.

C. "Partnership Interest" – Fully sharing and accepting the partner’s love, quirks, and nuances. This is including, but not limited to, snoring, snorting, farting and burping.

D. "Partnership Rights" - The right to love, laugh, fight, cry, but always stick together through the best and most challenging times regardless of difficulty.

Section 1. Name
The name of the Partnership shall be Christian and Joyce Rillera.

Section 2. Principal Place of Residence
The principal office and place of residence of the Partnership shall be located at Loft #4, 1705 Indiana, or whichever property fate has in store for their life together. The Partnership shall require that both parties commit to caring for and supporting each other.

Section 3. Purpose
The purpose of this partnership is to build a strong value oriented family for generations to come and provide support for one another during the most difficult of times and to share the happiest of times.

Section 4. Term
The Partnership shall commence upon the date of this Agreement, as set forth above. This bond will never terminate and will only grow stronger with time. Happiness is a natural byproduct of this agreement.

Although all above verbiage suggests both parties are entering an objective equal agreement, this is in fact Christian Vincent Rillera’s proposal to Joyce Santos Dragon for her hand in marriage. Please specify agreement with or declination of the proposal in the space provided below.

YES_____ NO_____

NAME OF PARTNER: ______________________

NAME OF PARTNER: ______________________

DATE:____________

Halfway through she looked up. Her eyes met mine as I was already on one knee. She was already welled up with tears and she asked "are you serious!". I told her to finish reading. When she was done I took the contract from her, took her hands in mine, looked her in the eyes and asked "Will you marry me?"

A nod, a smile, followed by a hug, a kiss, and then a mad scramble to find a pen... so she could sign the contract.