A ten knot wind put a chill in the air that Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. A sailboat was cruising east to west about a mile off shore. Behind it another boat was moving in the opposite direction. The narrow beach near Stony Brook, Long Island was vacant on that last weekend in September.
I was dressed for the weather in a blue denim jacket, pink cable knit pullover, black jeans and black 3-inch stacked-block heal booties. My long time girlfriend Jenny was dressed in similar fashion. Her choice of outfit is not surprising given that we shop at the same store.
Though I believe that lesbian couples should have the right to be married, it's just an abstract concept. With her I found myself content to build our relationship slowly. Marriage wasn't in the cards.
Am I ready for a change in my priority? I like having my activities centered around me. At 25 years of age I do not yet hear my clock ticking. I'm not sure I actually want a family either by giving birth or by adoption. Maybe by age 30 I'll feel differently. To date, however, neither Jenny nor I have broached the subject.
Jenny, age 27, has an hourglass figure that turns heads, especially mine on that first day when our paths crossed 3 years ago on this same beach. A couple of days later I recognized her in the neighborhood and learned that we weren't living very far apart.
Long blond hair frames a heart-shape face. She has full coral lips, blue eyes, high cheekbones and a slightly upturned nose.
The pitch of her voice is somewhat low for a girl, but so what if it is.
"Steph I have a question for you."
"Ask me anything."
"If you have a child would it be adoption or by giving birth?"
"What?!"
"Adoption or birth," she repeated.
"To be honest, I never gave it a thought."
"I'd like to have a family some day."
I asked, "do you know anyone, perhaps a friend, who would donate sperm."
"I'd have to go to the bank."
"Same here," I replied.
We walked in silence for maybe another 50 yards.
The line of questioning set me up for a pleasant surprise.
At about 15 minutes after 2 p.m. we stopped walking and stood eye to eye for a second. Jenny went down onto one knee. Our heads tilted letting our eyes meet.
"Stephanie Ann Caruso since you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, will you marry me?"
She opened opened the black felt box in her hand. Oh my GOD IT's GORGEOUS.