Put a ring on it...

Twelve years ago today Ryan and I went on our first official date. We had been "seeing each other" for a while, but our exclusiveness began on April 6. I was no longer in contact with a previous boyfriend, he wasn't talking to a previous stalker psycho girlfriend and we were together. Happy. In love.

I still own the dress from that night. Red. Long. Spaghetti straps. Too small to ever wear again. Chrissy Reed and I bought the same dress in different colors. We paired it with some killer shoes...

It was going to be the perfect night. 

Ryan arrived to my house right on time, with the typical Frat Daddy look... cargo khakis, Red Wings, white button shirt, sleeves rolled . I loved that look. He accessorized this outfit with a killer case of poison ivy over his right eye. 

We got in the car and headed to Cafe Eccel. Did I mention that Ryan drives a jeep? Well he does. And I have a severe love/hate relationship with this car. This night, I was definitely not a fan. Ryan, in typical male fashion, thought that since it was such a beautiful night we would take the top off not thinking about what that wonderful fresh hair would do to my hair. The jeep is also lifted, so my 5'3" self ripped my dress trying to get in. 

But it was still going to be the perfect night. 

And it was. I would not change a thing. Not from that night or any night that has followed. Each of these make up "Katy and Ryan". They make up us. I love him more today than I did back then... 

Two years later. April 6, 2001... 

I was convinced that I was going to get something special that day. I was all dressed up in the perfect outfit. I was waiting patiently for the moment to arrive. I still remember the words that were said. I still remember the people that surrounded me. I still remember the feeling of watching that little box open and I still remember the pounding of my heart when I saw this for the first time...

My Aggie Ring! Ten years ago today and I am still just as proud to wear it as that first time I slipped it on. A lot of other people thought Ryan was going to slip another ring on my finger that day. And while I would have clearly said "Yes!", I am so glad that day was about being an Aggie. 

Honor. Commitment. Integrity. Hard work. Tradition. Sacrifice. Loyalty. Spirit. Pride. Joy. Friendship. Service. Character. Excellence. All of these words signify what my Aggie Ring means to me. I have my top 3 Aggie moments just like anyone: Bonfire 1999, Being a Fish Camp Namesake and my Aggie Ring. 

I hate not wearing it.... so much so that my last name is actually misspelled on my ring and I won't turn it in to get it fixed because I don't want to be without it. I forgot my ring on our wedding day and made Ryan go back to the house to get it. I know to so many of my friends that chose to go to other schools... it all sounds crazy.... but, well... that's part of being an Aggie, too. 

Being an Aggie helped make me who I am. This school is not perfect. We have our flaws, but we also do a lot of things right...

We care. We teach. We learn. We preserve. We serve. We lead. We support each and every Aggie that we meet. I am so proud of my time in Aggieland. This school is a great place to learn. A wonderful place to work. A special place to call home.