A different Christmas story

A while back, I wrote about the romantic guy who elaborately proposed to his lady with the help of a bunch of friends and the Bruno Mars song, “Marry You.” I just saw an update on the couple and they have set a date in 2014 after she finishes nursing school.

My heart sank because I personally know how insane nursing school can make someone. Take me, for instance: I’m a fairly normal individual, but nursing school made my hair fall out, I started having seizures, and now I have a brain tumor. My marriage is lucky to have survived!

I wish the “Marry You” couple the best of luck because I still think that man is incredible, but today I want to tell you a different story about another guy who is also very wonderful, Shannon. He’s my sister, Meredith’s, boyfriend.

Meredith and Shannon started dating almost two years ago when she was just about to finish nursing school. Shannon is a great guy with an infectious smile who is a ton of fun to be around.

Meredith is similar to the other women in my family in that she doesn’t put up with much of anything. Some may call us intolerant, but I prefer “perfection driven.” We like things a certain way so we end up either complaining to ourselves or we call each other to vent. If something is exceptionally irksome, watch out because Mount Vesuvius will erupt! In other words, don’t overly irritate us and we’re fine.

Shannon loves to pick on Meredith for fun. If she yells at him, it doesn’t bother him at all and he just laughs it off. It is the weirdest thing because if my sister yells at me, I try to put maximum distance between us.

So it was Christmas day and they were unwrapping gifts. Shannon gave her a present. It was a picture frame that said “Family, all because two people fell in love.” How sweet.

He reached into the Christmas tree and pulled out a little black box. It looked suspiciously like a ring box.

As he handed it to her he asked, “Should I get down on one knee?”

She eyed him and said, “I don’t know. Do you need to?” He told her to open it and she did to discover a very ugly heart-shaped ring. She thought to herself, “He has horrible taste in jewelry.” While she put it on her finger, she noticed something else: the heart changed colors.

“This is a mood ring?” She asked.

“YES!” He joyously proclaimed as he began laughing. He then gave her another present, her real present, a Keurig coffee maker. He was very pleased with his little prank.

Now, I have to admit that I have been giggling ever since she told me the story. Our own mother said, “I like him more and more all the time,” when Meredith told her. I feel bad for laughing, but I just can’t believe he did it! I can’t believe he’s going to sleep next to her every night and feel safe!

If my husband had done that to me on Christmas, I probably would’ve stormed off to the bedroom and stayed there all day.

Shannon, you’re a brave and foolish man. I hope she keeps you around, but be careful with these stunts.

To the rest of you men out there, in the interest of your personal longevity, you are advised to never, ever attempt this!