Engagement
Our personal perspective on November 23, 2017
8:00 AM
A: Washing machine breaks. Heading to America TOMORROW. This better not ruin our day <flipping out ensues>.
M: Andrew is a level-headed, calm individual. Why is he flipping out SO. HARD. right now?! Airbnb will handle the broken washing machine, no big deal. Let’s go, cake and tea await!
Sketch
A: Okay, I have the ring in my coat pocket. It’s super obvious, isn’t it? OH NO. I checked my coat here. Should I tell the attendant? Maybe they’ll steal it. Should I NOT tell them?? Yeah, I won’t tell them so Mimi won’t know. Now we can have tea and it BETTER be there when we are done.
M: Why is he taking so many photos? I get it Andrew, your new Pixel 2 has an awesome camera!
Bus Ride
A: I hope we get there at a decent time. Hopefully it’s not completely dusk. I hope I don’t fall asleep and someone steals the ring out of my coat. Wait, how long IS the bus from Piccadilly to Greenwich?
M: ONE. HOUR. BUS. RIDE. I shouldn’t have eaten all those carbs. Well, I guess I’ll take a nap.
Park Arrival
A: Finally here! We’re here with plenty of time to hit the museum and then the planetarium. It’s a bit cold and Mimi looks a bit tired (and sure, annoyed), but we’re here! She’ll love this… I hope.
M: Wait, what? I have to trek 20 minutes to the museum? Man, I am exhausted. Andrew is seriously romanticizing this park. Jesus, can we just get there? The caffeine has clearly faded.
Kiosk
A: The plan was to receive one receipt that says “proposal” on it (which I was instructed to hide from view), two museum tickets, and two “VIP” planetarium tickets, but instead I was given FOUR planetarium tickets! Great, please please please don’t mess this up for me, kiosk staff. I’m so nervous already that I can’t even put on my paper museum entry bracelet. Okay, Mimi thinks the museum is great, so things are looking up. Almost there!
M: The kiosk people are a mess. Does the Queen know how incompetent these folks are? That was the third person that said the 5:00 PM VIP Planetarium Show didn’t exist. Why is Andrew freaking out about his bracelet? One side adheres to the other. Not that hard, Andrew. Also, where did he get this VIP show?
Museum
A: Very apparent that the staff had no clue about the “VIP” Planetarium show. They were supposed to be privy to the plans! I’ve had to show staff the “proposal” receipt at each check-in point. These folks aren’t even coy–one lady winked at me when I showed her the proposal receipt. This is all super suspicious and I’m certain Mimi has caught on. RUINED!
M: Aside from the staff acting strange, I love this place. This is magical.
Planetarium Waiting Room
A: We’re finally here! Okay, I think she might not have noticed. There’s a janitor sweeping up here, so I’m certain this looks off. She’s asking me where I heard of this: uhh, the Internet! Why is this a “VIP” showing: clearly only… a few times per year? How much were the tickets? Nevermind, don’t answer that one. I feel like I’m being deposed! Oh hey, our show is starting…
M: Um, why are the only ones here? Where did you get the tickets, ANDREW? Where did you hear about this VIP show? How much did it cost? Who is this Astronomer person we have to wait for? Okay, this entire planetarium is empty. Is this a private show?
Planetarium Theatre
A: I AM SO NERVOUS. I mean, I’m sure she will say yes, but I am still so nervous. Did I mentioned I was nervous? I am so nervous I can literally feel my blood flowing. Is this normal? WAIT. The astronomer said “Saturn’s Rings” – that’s my cue! Time to get the ring out.
M: Why is Andrew on the floor? OMG, is he hurt? Wait, what’s happening? OF COURSE, ANDREW! Wait, what do you mean the show is over?