“There I sat with my heart on the table.” A special Valentine’s Day remembered

The setting could not have been more romantic. Ernie’s restaurant, one of the premier San Francisco eateries, all decked out for Valentines Day. I had been leading up to proposing for weeks. Our trip to San Francisco was special time for us both and what better day to pop the question than that most romantic of days, February 14th?

Sitting there, my heart thumping, I waited for the perfect moment. The drinks had arrived, the waiter had taken our order and left.

Now was the moment of truth. I mustered all the courage I could. In my first book, Handbook to a Happier Life, I taught people to know what they want and go for it, so I said in my most seductive voice, “Will you marry me?”

At the very same instant a waiter, carrying a tray containing a huge lobster, walked past our table. Being distracted and not having heard me my lovely lady replied, “Look at the lobster!”

In a weak, trembling voice, I asked if she had heard what I said and what her answer was.

“Oh! I’m sorry, yes, of course. I love you and want to be your wife. But did you see the size of that lobster?” We celebrated out 19th wedding anniversary this past October.

PS. I have not eaten lobster since:-)