A Modest Proposal
May 13th, 2008Ow.
My hands hurt. Well, the backs, yesterday. And my forearms. The back of the neck, a bit. I have a pleasant feeling of warmth in my face, probably what people tanning near Chernobyl felt. “You are Santa Claus!” the school secretary today declared.
Yeah, I went hiking with Jamie on Lamma Island yesterday, which was a holiday in Hong Kong due to some Indian prince being born two thousand years ago.
“We should go to Cheung Chau,” she suggested. “They’re having a crazy bun festival.”
While the Cheung Chau Bun Festival did indeed look spectacular, with children balancing on cups and plates as they are carried through the streets on poles and other traditional aspects of Chinese culture, I had been waiting until the first non-cloudy day in which to take Jamie to Lamma to re-enact our first trip there together in January of 2006, when I first came to Hong Kong to see her.
We took the ferry from Central to Lamma’s south end, which has pretty much nothing except for seafood restaurants. The trail leading to the north end was shaded by broad, leafy plants and trees, though, and once we broke through the foliage and entered the grassy, rocky hill area a pleasant breeze from the sea cooled us until we reached the halfway point, where an enterprising vendor was doing a good trade in popsicles and other iced goods.
The rest pavilion there is also situated beside a path leading up to the top of mountain, with lots of nice-sized rocks for footholds.
“Are we done yet?” panted Jamie, who had forgotten her regular shoes in the office and was completing the entire journey via plastic sandals.
“Almost,” I huffed, taking the time to drink some water. “Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”
Near the top, the breeze petered out and the foliage began to reassert itself, so it was hot and muggy and we were sweaty and sat down to fight over who got the water first.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I started playing “The Moon Represents my Heart” for background music. You can start it now if you want to set the mood at home (gods only know why; perhaps you have reached a certain point in the relationship with your mouse).
“Jamie, the first time we came to this spot two years ago, I shared a wonderful time with you. There were times when I was worried and lost, but when I was without you in Japan I always thought of how much I love you, and I know that no matter where you go I’ll be right with you.”
“Even China?” she asked.
“Yup.”
“Even Canada?” she queried.
“Yes. I want to share all my time with you, which is why …” I said, fumbling for the box I had secreted inside the backpack, “today I ask you; will you marry me?”
The sunlight glinted off the pair of gold rings with a tiny diamond embedded in the band.
“Yes,” Jamie whispered. A second later her voice went back to normal. “Of course!” she giggled.
The song finished. I put my phone back in my pocket and gave her the box.
“Nice rings,” she said approvingly. “Hey, mine is too small!”
“It’s OK. If I bring them back within two weeks I can get them resized at no extra cost,” I said cheerfully, which later turned out to be a lie.
“Cool,” Jamie said as I helped her stand up to make our way down the mountain. “It really is a nice view,” she sighed, gazing towards Aberdeen.
“Definitely,” I said, looking at her. “Does this mean I can update my Facebook status now?”
“What? I never said ‘Yes’.”
“Yes you did!”
“As if I would! I said ‘Of course’, I merely gave you permission.”
“Excuse me? Hey, I’m your owner now, I don’t have to take this!”
“Great! Find me another man!”
It’s nice to know that my modest proposal didn’t affect the way we talk with one another. The sun continued to shine down on us as we continued our way towards the ferry pier, eventually taking the short route back to Hong Kong island via Aberdeen, and then taking a bus directly back to Nam Cheong.
And yes, I know. It was deliberate.
