We were seated in one of the finest restaurants I had ever stepped foot in, with one of the most spectacular views.  Tables were clothed in pristine white linens, adorned with glasses that twinkled like distant stars and silverware which could not stop gleaming at us.  Even the wall of windows begged to steal our attention with the sights of the city below.  I had been dating Joe for three years that night in June of 1987, when he took me to Windows on the World for an elegant sky-high dinner at the World Trade Center on the 107th floor of the North Tower.

Joe was unusually quiet that evening.  I chalked it up to him having a bad day at work, then I quickly resumed to soaking in the atmosphere and excitement of being in New York City.  Nothing was going to prevent me from enjoying myself.

“These rolls are so good.  Do you want one, Joe?”

“No.”

“I’m starving. Aren’t you hungry?”

“Not yet.”

The waiter came and served our dinners.  Joe’s moodiness seemed to escalate as he did not dive into his food, which is his normal custom.  I was trying to savor each bite, but I felt his two eyes studying my every move.

“Almost done?” Joe asked with a trace of irritability.

I sensed that he was not either feeling well or, for some reason, wanted to leave the restaurant sooner than later.  He hardly touched his dinner.  Although I wanted to lick my plate clean, I lied and said I was finished.

Immediately following my response, Joe’s arm came down across the table like a freshly cut tree.  He turned over his hand and stretched his fingers to reveal a little black box.

“Here,” was the only word Joe seemed able to muster.

My senses grew dull.  Every person and every object faded away, except the box.  Tears came automatically as I opened my surprise and saw the most exquisite ring.  Honestly, I had no idea . . . no suspicion . . . no hint . . . this was going to happen!

“Well,” Joe remarked impatiently.

“Well what!” I shot back.

“You didn’t answer me,” he said firmly.

“You didn’t ask me anything,” I reminded him.

We both started to laugh, and the tension lifted as he slipped the ring, an impressive marquise-shaped diamond solitaire, onto my finger.  Almost instantly, Joe regained his full appetite whereas mine was gone.  He not only devoured his dinner, but switched plates with me and ate that, too, in addition to both desserts!  As lightning began to flaunt itself throughout the hidden sky, I thought to myself, “This is a night I will always remember.”