No day, but today.

5th September 2011, 2:30pm (+1 GMT)

I felt the breeze turned chilly and the leaves on the tress were turning red and orange. I carried my knapsack on my bag and smiled as I walked past Jardin de Luxembourg towards our hostel and thought to myself, “I am so blessed to see summer turn into fall.”

It was the first day of autumn.

Seasonal changes are always significant. They mark a new journey, a new phase of life, new hopes and new joys, not to mention brand new challenges too.

As Grace, Chris and I finally touched down at our sixth city, we were drained, exhausted and bored of the touristy stuff. I know for myself, I wasn’t looking forward at all to go to Paris. I heard it’s really dirty! Being a neat and clean freak, I am so not keen on visiting the City of Love. No matter what people tell me. I even thought of skipping the Eiffel but I just have to visit it. Going to Paris and not going up the Eiffel is as good as not going to Paris at all…so I just had to bear with the long queues and unspectacular grossness of the touristy place etc.

Anyway, we took the worst Metro (in the world) and arrived at Bir-Hakeim. Hopped off the train and walked towards the Eiffel, which wasn’t hard at all considering that the tower is towering :p

Grace and Chris were at their most relaxed mode which was strangely peculiar because they would normally be the “kan chiong” and kiasu ones to go get the tickets, beat the crowd, la di da. haha! But today, however, they were not bothered at all!

I became the kiasu one and asked them where we can line up to get the tickets and they said to me, “Don’t worry la. We’ll just take a walk around the park first.” I was like, “WHAT??!!” Because I know if we don’t line up, we’ll take 3 hours or so to get a ticket. I followed them as they head towards South and East facing where they claim “The best view” is at.

Walking down the few stone steps at the Eiffel and heading towards the rubbish-ridden park, there I saw him in red. Standing there, beaming and beckoning me with his eyes.

I was in such an inexpressible joy but mostly shock that I cried as I walked up to him. I gave him a big hug and said nothing. It was a breezy and sunny day even though my tears blurred my vision and and I was smiling myself silly. He gave me a red rose as red as the shirt he was wearing and went down on one knee and asked in alot of trembling, excitement and hopefulness, “Will you marry me?” Which in a split second, he interrupted himself to say, “Sorry, I haven’t done this before.”

I laughed and cried (oh my gosh, I didn’t stop tearing!) and to which I said, “Yes, of course!” :)

Grace and Chris were busy recording the moment on their camera and iPhone. He slipped the luminous diamond ring into my ring finger on my right hand and said, “Sorry, wrong hand.” I laughed and he laughed. Both were awkward and ecstatic.

We kissed and hugged and some strangers clapped their hands and congratulated us. :)

I never thought this day would come so soon. 

And so, that marks the first day of Autumn in Paris. And at the same time, that first autumn day marks a new phase of life Yew Gene and I entered in with love abounding and hopes soaring.

We are engaged!

p/s: He bought walking tickets up to the Eiffel! So glad he didn’t get the elevator tickets. :) My dearie knows me best! But my two good friends were cursing him haha :p 

So this IS the City of Love. Or at least, it’s the City of OUR Love. To have Yew Gene and my very best friends witnessing a life-changing moment is better than I imagined it to be. I will never forget this milestone, especially not in Paris. Suddenly Paris seems such a lovely place, after all (ignore the rubbish :p) And that was my summer. I left home single and came home engaged to the love of my life. :)

Thank You Jesus, for everything. And everything. We commit our lives into Your hands.