Darkness had already fallen on the Quad by the time my boyfriend Chris and I strolled up the moonlit walkway to the benches that surround the Lady of the Mist. We chose a special one. We chose the one just in front of Howard Auditorium where, on a fall evening two years ago, we decided we were probably more than just friends. At approximately 8:15 on the Wednesday evening before this fall break, while hundreds of Tech students were cramming for final exams, I was seated a bit misty-eyed on that bench while Chris kneeled before me with an opened ring box.

Of course I said yes. On the walk back to the dorms, Chris asked, "Well, when are you gonna start calling people?" So, the next hour was filled with crying, squealing, many "I'm so happy for yous" and lectures.

I called my sister first. But I had to leave a cryptic message on her voice mail because she didn't answer. It serves her right for being at work while I was getting engaged.

Next was my friend Sharon. She and her friend Liz were driving back from one of their spontaneous trips to Natchitoches when I called her.

Before I could say anything, she shrieked, "You're engaged!" Apparently, it wasn't as much of a secret as Chris hoped it was. I made her promise to come over and see my ring, and then we hung up. Sharon toldÊme later that it's quite challenging to drive, talk on a cell phone and wipe tears away at the same time.

I was just about to call my mom when I receivedÊa text message from Jordan: "Are you engaged yet?" I called her and told her I was.

When I got Mom on the phone, we exchanged the normal pleasantries, and then I told her about the evening's happenings. She said, "Oh Rindy, I'm so glad for you." Her only problem with the whole thing was that Chris called my dad to ask "permission," but he hadn't called her. I thinkÊshe's over it now.

I was a bit apprehensive about calling my grandma, as herÊreaction to my sister's Christmas engagement last year wasn't exactly mild. WhenÊI called, my grandpa answered the phone. I said, "So, well, Chris proposed to me and uh I said yes. So, I'm engaged!"

It took a minute for Pop to get back to me with "Well, you know you need to finish school first." All the while I could hear my grandma laughing and cheering in the background. She has always likedÊChris.

After that, I stood in the middle of my room wondering who to call next.

Chris said, "How about your dad?" My step-mom answered the phone. "Well, he did it!," I said. She wanted to know every detail. Then my dad got on the phone, congratulated me and quickly made an exit. He was never a big talker.

Next on the list was another Tech Talk girl, Julie. "I'm so happy for you two!", she said. We chatted for a while and bid each other good night.

Just for kicks, I decided I'd try to get a hold of my best friend ever in life, that's her title, Taleisha in North Carolina. I couldn't help but feel a little sad when the answeringÊmachine picked up, and I couldn't tell my future maid of honor the goodÊnews.

Well, the ring finger on my left hand has never been more popular. Just after I walk into a room where at least one person already knows about our engagement, I'm instantly surrounded by people leaning in for a closer look at my bejeweled appendage. "He did good," they all say. Now, I can only assume they mean the ring.

I guess it's important to receive "blessings" from friends Êand family members when life is about to take an amazing turn, but even if every one of them had disagreed, it wouldn't have mattered because I don't think IÊcould be more happy.

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Rindy Metcalf is a junior journalism major from Bossier City and serves as associate managing editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to rdm018@latech.edu.