I was so completely clueless – had no idea what was about to happen! Marc and I were on vacation at the Four Seasons in Costa Rica (courtesy of Clear Channel) with a crew of Clear Channel managers, celebrating a great first couple of quarters.

   Lounging in the sun was the only thing on my mind, especially on this particular day when Marc had been out golfing with his guy friends while I hung out at the pool with the girls. I knew we had a massage scheduled for sometime around 3:30 or so and was completely content reading my book and sipping on a cocktail in the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.

   I’ll never forget Marc rushing up to me and telling me he’d moved our massage up earlier so we could go out and take some pictures on the golf course, over looking the ocean, at sunset. Some people might think that this would have been a noticeable flag that something was up - BUT not me! Marc had been a little disappointed while we were in Jamaica for Zach and Jill’s wedding because we never had the time to go out to the beach and take some really good pictures together at sunset. He’d been bummed about it for awhile and had mentioned several times that he’d really like to get a “sunset picture” while we were in Costa Rica. So, I thought this was our big chance!

   We headed to our massage (which was great, by the way) and then a shuttle took us up a hill to a gorgeous golf course overlooking the ocean. Marc casually mentioned on the way up that he’d scheduled dinner reservations at the nicest restaurant at the resort and that a couple of our closest friends would be there to join us after our picture taking adventure. Again, no flags here – not in my mind. We hadn’t had dinner with Bob, Deb, Sandy and Jeff since we’d gotten to Costa Rica and this was our chance to get away from the big group and just chill out with our closest pals. I was excited!

   When we made it up to the club house, an attendant told us that a golf cart was waiting for us and that Marc was free to take it – Marc had mentioned earlier that he’d “set up everything” with the caddy but I did find it a little strange that they were so willing to let us take their golf cart and gallivant around the course, at sunset. But, hey whatever – I was just along for the ride and the picture! =) We made it to the 17th hole and saw the spectacular view that everyone at the resort had been telling us about. It was beautiful – there are no words. Marc set up his tripod and in the meantime, I worried a little about the strange noises I was hearing. That was the Howler Monkeys – a known species of tree monkeys in Costa Rica…they were HOWLING away at us. I was just a little bit concerned...

   Marc told me to go stand in front of the tripod and look out towards the ocean so he could take a picture of my silhouette looking out… OK – so I did. Then he came up behind me and gave me a huge hug – I could tell he was shaking a little bit… NOW is when I thought, “uhm, something is up”… I turned around and Marc got down on one knee and said… “Jennifer Salters, you are my best friend and I love you so much – Will you marry me!?”

   Of course I said YYYEEESSS – I was in shock…it took me a couple of minutes before I even looked at the ring. I was crying too hard to see anything through my happy tears. It was absolutely amazing – just like Marc.

   So, that’s our story – Marc even had champagne hidden in one of the bunkers beside the hole so we sat and had a glass and called our parents together – looking over the most beautiful scene I’d ever seen. It was the perfect proposal for a perfect relationship – and a beautiful beginning to this next phase of our lives together. I will never ever EVER forget it!