Jen left for San Francisco for work. We had planned for me to come down to spend the weekend together. She picked me up and we headed to Napa, CA to spent two days in Napa, drinking wine and trying to learn a little wino lingo. Saturday we drove to San Francisco, it was a beautiful day. I’d made plans for dinner that night and I knew it had crossed her mind that perhaps this would be THE time, which is what I wanted. We ate at the Top of the Mark, which is famous for its view and notorious for proposals. Dinner was wonderful and my nerves were starting to surface. When the bill came and was paid, she was a little surprised that nothing had happened. She climbed into our cab first and asked the driver to take us to our hotel. I said, “Why don’t we go have a drinkâ€? I asked the driver to take us to the Fisherman’s Wharf area for a drink, perhaps where the cable cars end. We “happened†upon the Buena Vista. I had her go in and get us a seat while I had a cigarette but actually called her father in Montana to ask his permission. He answered and said absolutely!  A month before I’d called the Buena Vista to tell them my plans but the manager was gone. I decided to do it on my own. I said we should order an Irish Coffee. The bartender brought them and I then told her that this place was famous for Irish Coffees. Then, I turned towards her and said that I did know about this place and had brought her here on purpose - it was where my parents had met for the first time in 1960! At that moment, the busy bar went quiet and we were the only two in the room. I told her I loved her and that she was my best friend, pulled out the ring and asked her to marry me… She said yes and we are set to be married in August!
- Steve S., Seattle, Washington