Picture it, Long Island 2011, (Sophia - Golden Girls voice).
I had an amazing opportunity to intern for NBCUniversal but I also needed a part-time job. Lucky for me, I found one at Fox’s located right next to the Mineola Train Station… One day, I look out the window and see this charming man walking across the street as if he was listening to music. He wasn’t, but his strut made me smile.
If you ask Ivan: He tried to talk to me many times throughout months, but I would be shy or come off as rude… I think he was the first guy to make me nervous, so my flirting tactic was to run away, and avoid him as much as possible. Perfect right?
As everyone knows I am obsessed with Friday the 13th. However, with so much work and things going on I had been under a rock weeks before 4/13/2012 but because it was Friday the 13th I knew I needed to go out in NYC, live my best life, celebrate my favorite day. So, I called my friends, went to the mall (to buy an ugly zebra blazer) and we all got ready to go out. We had a drink and went to Mineola train station. When we got there, Ivan was waiting for the same train with his friends. I told my friends Lauren, Stephanie + Lauren C. “that’s the guy” then I turned to greet him.Naturally we get on the train and he asked for my number, which inspired my friends to start singing “Call me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. I was mortified, but it was hilarious.
Later on, much passed midnight 4/14/12 after being separate places the entire night, we strangely bumped into each other at Penn Station waiting for the same train home... We sat together on the way back and the rest is history... Friday the 13th is the luckiest day ever.<3
Above photo includes:
Pictures of my friends and I in a limo in NYC during the night. Taken By: Us
A photo of Ivan asking me for my number on the train before we got to the city. Taken By: Jairo
So since I am telling this one, it is going to be a lot “shorter” than Melissa's.
I got the ring ...and I couldn't wait to propose. I knew we were going to celebrate her birthday (April 2) and her now bridesmaid Arianna's birthday (April 3) the weekend of (April 7 2018). Melissa's sinus infection/flu was almost gone. Luckily with the help of our friend Alex, I was able to propose at his upstate house. As we all know, Melissa LOVES nature, woods and her friends, so I am thinking this might be the moment. As we were packing, Melissa was fussy and almost cancelled the trip in fear she would get sicker again because it was going to be cold and snow. (Eye roll)
Of course, we get there, we have a great time and thankfully that fear went away. I could not imagine what would have happened if we did cancel the trip! Because as any man would know...how it feels to go through the process of buying a ring, and then having to hold on to it. It feels like forever! To be honest, I wasn’t sure when I would actually drop this knee. After all, we have only been dating for 6 years... Would I be rushing? Just kidding!
Melissa decides that after much frustration, from starting her new job, and getting sick on her first week at the new job, she wanted to apologize for almost cancelling and getting so upset from the tough week she had.She goes " I am so sorry about this week. Thanks for everything - it was a lot and.. I love you, I would do anything for you" (Not sure if it was her or the champagne talking, but I am thinking...o.k now is the time.)
SO I said : " Really ? Anything? " She laughed and said: "Yes ANYTHING"
So then I said" "Even, marry me? "... and surprisingly, she said “YES”
Upstate Photo Taken By: Stephanie
Kids, I've been telling you the story of how I met your mother, and while there's many things to learn from this story, this may be the biggest. The great moments of your life won't necessarily be the things you do, they'll also be the things that happen to you. Now, I'm not saying you can't take action to affect the outcome of your life, you have to take action, and you will. But never forget that on any day, you can step out the front door and your whole life can change forever. You see, the universe has a plan kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings, and it starts to rain. It's a scary thought but it's also kind of wonderful. All these little parts of the machine constantly working, making sure that you end up exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place at the right time.
How I Met Your Mother - Right Place Right Time - posted on Melissa’s Facebook status September 2011