Atop the 4th of July

After 5 full minutes of convincing, Kristi agreed to go on the double ferris wheel with Jim, and now damn! if they weren't stuck at the pinnacle of the mechanically-failed ride.


Their bench seat gently rocked commanding the grandest vista of distant greenery in full summer glory, and the shimmer of the river in the distance only added majesty worthy of commitment to canvas as a fine painting.


It wasn't turning out as Jim hoped, but he had one arm around Kristi's shoulders and, with the other, held her hand gently in his lap, her head nestled squarely into his shoulder whose firmness brought reassurance, almost palpably absorbing her anxiety.


He softly chided her, successful in getting her to open her eyes, coaxing her to look toward the horizon, instead of looking down.


He tilted her chin for her eyes to meet his, "We're on top of the world, Kristi,, our world, and it's our chance to look beyond instead of down or back, honey," and he paused to inhale deeply.


"Will you marry me?"