wanderunner

So last weekend I THOUGHT I was going to the zoo, then running a Veteran’s Day 5k. Well, I did end up going to the National Zoo, which was lovely!

Here is Jason on the walk up to the entrance:

I did not expect to be proposed to, however, nor to be surprised by my mom and sister who flew all the way out from the west coast to see me. I was so happy but also in shock. Of course I said yes, and I was elated that my family was there, but I was still adamant about running the 5k (typical). They said NO! They were only here for 24 hours and were not about to spend that time watching me run (which my sister said was not that special because I do that every day- it’s ok, she doesn’t understand). What I later learned is that there was a surprise party waiting for me back home: with our DC friends, my college friends, and his mom and her husband. Ok, so I definitely understood why my race was out of the question- and Jason is a sweetheart and apologized for the poor planning. I was just in shock that he managed to hide this all from me. 

I was ridiculed by our guests because apparently I was trying to eat a banana (a painfully brown one too) right before Jason got down on one knee. He later told us that he was internally screaming “PUT THE BANANA AWAY MELISSA” and about to throw it into the zoo enclosure. He somehow managed to convince me to wait (thank GOD), but it was an entertaining story to retell and also so on brand for me. 

After the party we went to dinner at a Greek restaurant in Old Town Alexandria called Taverna Cretekou. I was too anxious/excited/emotional all day to eat very much but the lamb shank was DELISH.

Jason is the best to incorporate so much Greek culture in our lives, starting with my first birthday we celebrated together. He took me to a Mediterranean restaurant in San Antonio called Pasha, and that ended up being a part of our Friday night routine. I miss that place.

Also- in addition to setting up the entire party, Jason’s best friend jokingly surprised us with beets for our engagement gift (our housewarming gift was a pineapple). I told him joke’s on him, I love beets, and I used them in my salad today.

Anyway, I couldn’t be happier. Jason also said he would register me for a makeup 5k this weekend, which will be even more fun with a ring on 🙂