No, Patrick didn’t go down on one knee and profess his everlasting and unwavering love for yours truly (at least, not yet), but someone did! Dennis, whom I also refer to affectionately as my frenemy, proposed to Carly last month while we were visiting Taiwan.

You may remember blond-haired and blue-eyed Dennis as the “Golden Boy” in my family from this interview many moons ago on the trials and tribulations of undertaking the daunting task that is dating a pair of twins. We call him “Golden Boy” behind his back because he is everything Patrick is not—stable, quiet, Mr. Always Does the Right Thing at the Right Time…I mean, c’mon, who wouldn’t love this guy?!?
Well, after four years, two breakups, and lots of family drama mostly instigated by me, Dennis somehow survived and decided to jump headfirst into the deep end, finally slipping a pretty little one on my twin’s ring finger. Atop the most pristine and heavenly mountains in Taiwan, Dennis asked Carly to “be his baby forever” late one night as the stars peek-a-boo’d from the blanket of velvety night fog. *sigh*


Their engagement was and wasn’t a surprise to my family. We’ve known that something was coming for a while now but because we’ve known for so long, at one point we weren’t even sure it was coming anymore! Of course we are all thrilled for Carly and Dennis (when it was first confirmed to me he was going to propose in Taiwan, I had tears in my eyes!) but their elation can't quite mask the white elephant in the room.
“Do you feel upstaged by your sister because she and Dennis are stealing the spotlight from you?” my dad asked me sincerely after the engagement.
“Oh my gosh NO! I am so happy for them. Carly and I never compete about anything. Her win is my win,” I respond truthfully. But I knew why my dad was concerned for me since hearing the word "marriage" still gives me the hives. Because I don't know what it'll take for Patrick and me to once and for all take that leap of faith towards blissfully engaged. Because I keep telling the world marriage is a dying institution even though deep down... deep down...ugh.
![]() |
Dennis asking my dad for Carly's hand in marriage on our back porch. |
“Patrick and I are like a married couple anyway, and a ring won’t change much of anything for us right now,” I reassured my dad just as much as I was reassuring myself. You see, something very few people know about is that I DO have a ring. And a big one at that. Its hiding place changes from week to week but it’s still supposedly mine and when I feel all romantic and giddy, I try to wear it around the house.
When Patrick and I were planning our wedding that never was, he put down a lot of change for a very big ring for me. White gold, princess cut, a band of diamonds, and three whole carats, it is quite excessive and definitely more than a simple girl like me could ever wear. Sometimes when I look at it in its polished mahogany case, I wonder why I ever hinted to Patrick that I would want something as big as he could afford. I almost feel guilty he spent so much money on a ring I don’t even get to show off, money that could have been invested or saved as a down payment for our imminent house purchase. Sometimes I am embarrassed or even ashamed thinking about the prospect of having to wear such a rock in front of his family one day, scrambling to justify to them why on earth I ever had their dear son waste so much money on me.
![]() |
Ok, I lied. We don't really live here. This was during our Asia vacation. |
The worst part of it is I can’t even wear the ring right since it is almost three sizes too big for me (the ring was bought unsized). So it has been floating around in a bookcase or bathroom cabinet for going on two years now, its misfitting ways symbolizing all that went wrong and all that is broken in our relationship. There it has been sitting and collecting emotional dust, representing all that could have been and all that still has to happen for Patrick to finally say to me, “Yes, you’re it. Let's do it, girl!”
But last week, on a weekly cruise through the mall, I stumbled across a newly opened jewelry store that promised fast fixes for any jewelry or watch problem. The man behind the counter told me it would cost $50 to take my ring down to a size 5.25 and $50 on that day didn’t sound like too high a price to once and for all resize my ring. I texted Patrick to ask him what he thought and he said, “Sure, go do it.”
And so I did the very next day. I brought the ring in like a nervous high school girl in love, watching the jeweler precisely laser the band apart only to put it back together a few minutes later. I guarded the ring like a new father would his baby in the NICU, making sure every step of the way my baby was treated with utmost care. It came back to me clean, polished, and MY size. The man behind the counter slipped it onto my finger and said, “You can wear your ring now. It fits perfectly. By the way, how long have you had it?”
“Oh, um, a while…”
“That’s a shame you couldn’t wear it for so long,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. No, you don’t understand, I wish I could tell him the story. It was not mine to wear this whole time. But thank you for making it feel more like mine, and maybe I will wear it more now. But just for fun because I’m not really engaged yet.
Looking at it on my finger as I type this post that has gone on for too long, my ring doesn’t seem too big anymore. Perhaps it was wrong of me to ask Patrick to prove the magnitude of his love in carats when we first found out I was unexpectedly pregnant. But Patrick, after all we've been through, can you honestly tell me I'm not completely, utterly, MAGNIFICENTLY worth every penny you've spent?
Right??
*cricket chirps*
Congratulations to your sister and the entire family. Your picture about the house made me laugh. Thank you.
ReplyDeletehi efrutik,
ReplyDeleteis your blog closed now? i couldn't see it...anywhoo..thank you for your well wishes and hope you are enjoying life. email me at anytime!
love,
artemis
how exciting! congrats to your sister! how much fun it is going to be to have a new family member! :) love the pictures
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your twin sis! But will we ever get to see YOUR ring?
ReplyDeleteCity Girl to Country Girl
My ring was free so luckily I didn't have any ring guilt. Now, if Seth had had to purchase it, I might have felt bad because it wouldn't have been cheap. Thank goodness for grandmas who love diamonds.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your sister! I miss your blogs!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!
ReplyDelete<3 Ash
I hope that one day you tell him how you REALLY feel.
ReplyDeletenike factory outlet
ReplyDeletelouis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet
true religion
louis vuitton outlet
louis vuitton
polo ralph lauren
cheap jordan shoes
hollister kids
christian louboutin outlet
louis vuitton bags
jordan retro
toms shoes
michael kors
ray ban sunglasses
hollister clothing store
jordan 8s
louis vuitton outlet
pandora jewelry
beats headphones
replica watches for sale
nike free run 2
burberry outlet online
coach outlet store online clearances
air jordan 13
jordan 3 infrared
louis vuitton bags
air max 90
michael kors handbags
jordan 6
ghd hair straighteners
christian louboutin outlet
designer handbags
michael kors outlet online
kate spade
michael kors outlet online
kobe 9
fitflop sandals
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors handbags
2016.6.6haungqin
zhuo201260816
ReplyDeleteyeezy boost 350
nike huarache
burberry outlet
tory burch outlet
mizuno running shoes
timberland boots
cheap uggs
nike free flyknit
cheap uggs
cartier watches
birkenstocks
birkenstock sandals
coach purses on sale
coach factory outlet
ray ban sunglasses outlet
discount nike shoes
polo outlet
uggs sale
kevin durant shoes
michael kors outlet
uggs for kids
ghd flat iron
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
jimmy choo shoes
jordan shoes
ugg outlet
ugg boots outlet
micahel kors
prada sunglasses
dolce and gabbana outlet
canada goose jackets
gucci outlet
as
canada goose outlet
ReplyDeletecheap jordans
replica watches
polo ralph lauren
ugg boots
uggs outlet
louis vuitton outlet
oakley store
ray ban sunglasses
christian louboutin uk
chenlina20161005
ferragamo shoes
ReplyDeleteugg boots
football shirts
kate spade handbags
uggs outlet
swarovski crystal
michael kors outlet
michael kors outlet
ralph lauren polo
louis vuitton sunglasses
chanyuan10.19
JIANBIN1114
ReplyDeletetiffany jewellery
cheap jordans free shipping
north face jackets
futbol baratas
nike outlet store online
michael kors factory outlet
coach outlet
beats headphones
ugg outlet
ugg outlet online
nike shoes
ReplyDeletelunettes ray ban
adidas yeezy 350 boost
montblanc pen
ralph lauren polo shirts
louboutin pas cher
nike trainers uk
ugg boots
replica rolex watches
supra shoes
20171.16chenjinyan
ugg outlet uk
ReplyDeletemichael kors handbags
coach outlet canada
coach outlet store online
coach outlet online coach factory outlet
beats headphones
reebok trainers
coach factory outlet
uggs outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
chanyuan2017.01.18
adidas stan smith
ReplyDeletenike roshe run
michael kors outlet online
nike zoom
yeezy boost
adidas nmd r1
adidas neo
air yeezy
cheap jordans
michael kors handbags
ReplyDeletenew england patriots jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
basketball shoes
nike blazer
converse trainers
cleveland cavaliers jersey
coach factory outlet
michael kors handbags clearance
cheap ray bans
hxy4.21
ReplyDeleteadidas outlet
oakley sunglasses
rolex outlet
pandora outlet
polo outlet
true religion outlet
louis vuitton handbags
reebok shoes
christian louboutin shoes
ferragamo shoes
cheap oakley sunglasses
ReplyDeletemichael kors outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
michael kors outlet clearance
san francisco 49ers jerseys
beats by dr dre
louis vuitton outlet store
mont blanc pens
adidas yeezy
ultra boost
0509shizhong
Video game awesome is an tumblr.com/ android app that allows you to Official Website rip off android games resources such Directly Game Killer Download available on Android APK as gold, coins, diamonds, gems nearly every Game Killer little thing precious on the Game Killer App video game that requires you to invest loan to get.
ReplyDeleteThe infant stroller stands upright on its own wixsite.com/ when folded up it's the only one on Read This Article this listing keeping that coveted ability. It also has a large storage container.Best Convertible Car Seats of 2017 Like the Infant Pattern Expedition, this stroller isn't indicated for serious runners.
ReplyDeletenmd adidas
ReplyDeletemulberry handbags
adidas superstar
coach outlet online
nike shoes outlet
james harden shoes
coach outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors
ralph lauren uk
mt0714
oakley sunglasses
ReplyDeleteultra boost 3.0
balenciaga sneakers
nike hyperdunk
moncler jackets
nike prestos
hermes birkin
ray ban sunglasses online
nike basketball shoes
pandora jewelry
pandora jewelry
ReplyDeletekobe 9
roshe run
nike air force
michael kors outlet
michael kors factory outlet
portugal world cup jersey
nike free
ralph lauren uk
cartier love bracelet
2018.6.28chenlixiang
nba jerseys
ReplyDeletetrue religion outlet
polo ralph lauren
pandora charms
air jordan shoes
armani exchange
fitflops shoes
burberry outlet
visvim shoes
oakley sunglasses
chanyuan2018.06.29
Des chaussures acheter nike tn femme classiques, durables et confortables, qui valent la peine asics gel lyte v jaune d'être vôtres. La forme autocollant nike sb abrégée BW signifie «grande fenêtre». Ils asics gel lyte 3 femme fluo pourraient être utilisés pour air jordan 4 femme blanc traiter les maladies vénériennes lorsqu'ils sont air jordan 11 soldes administrés à l'état frais, lorsqu'une asics homme blanc teinture fabriquée à partir d'eux adidas zx flux noir homme pas cher est utilisée comme sédatif, anesthésique et vulnéraire. chaussure homme nike free
ReplyDeletecanada goose jackets
ReplyDeletejordan 6
bottega veneta
ray ban sunglasses
hermes belt
adidas outlet
maillot de foot
manolo blahnik
ysl handbags
nike air max
201811.19chenjinyan