So I used the "pity" card. I've been feeling a little under the weather with a sore throat, ear ache, head ache, minor body aches. Nothing major. Just tired and listless. But no matter what, when I feel even slightly "off," you can tell from a mile away because my eyes get a little glassy and I'm very, very quiet. And I sigh... a lot.
So as I sat in my favorite chair in the living room, with Joe in his regular spot on the love seat, and Bill (our demon dog), snuggled next to him, a WDW commercial came on. "I really can't wait for this upcoming trip," Joe said with a smile. "Where do you want to eat this time?"
And I thought through my achey mind,
Now's my chance! "Dunno... I'm too tired and achey to think straight... (BIG sigh)... maybe I'll just go to bed..."
"You want anything? How about some tea? That'd help your throat at least." Joe was instantly on doting partner alert, ready to be at my beck and call. A part of me casually wondered if I asked him for some White Castle, would he really run out and buy a sack for yours truly... Something to ponder for another evening, however, since I was in the midst of a scheme of a different type.
"Tea would be great thanks... and while your up, can I have a pillow? My neck is awful sore," and then I threw a slight cough into the mix. I didn't have a cough, but thought it'd be a great attention grabber. And then throw in a sigh (a little one this time), lean back into the chair and stare glassily at the tv.
And off Joe went to make me some tea with honey. While he was busy, I hopped over to the wall unit and grabbed the WDW planning DVD and popped it into the player. When Joe strolled back into the living room, hot steam billowing about his head, I was once again firmly ensconced in my chair. "Be careful, this is hot." I've often wondered why people say that when they hand you something that's steaming. And what about those waiters that hand you your fajita platter at Chi Chi's, the one that's not just steaming but downright sizzling? "Watch yourself, the plates pretty hot." Something to marvel at for later.
So I murmured my thanks, blew into the cup, and revved up the DVD player. WDW in all it's glory! With a deep, soulful sigh, "I love watching this before our trips. Really puts me in the mood."
And we watched the entire DVD, smiling, saying things that started with "Remember when...?", "I love that ride...", "I'm eating THAT when we're there!" or "Let's do that next time." And of course, by the end of the DVD, I had a lump in my throat and a little smile on my face. All to which Joe said, "Now, why do you always get choked up?" He asks me this everytime, without fail, when we watch the DVD, our videos or especially when we're actually there.
"Disney has so many memories for me. You were introduced to it as an adult, but my parents took me to
Disneyland and Disney World when I was a baby, a toddler, a little boy and then a teenager. And then I went with friends when I was in college. And then I brought you for the first time only a couple of years after we met. Books, movies, music, parks... Disney's always been there for me," I was getting pretty passionate. "Being raised all over the country and out of the country was normal as a Navy brat. We didn't have any connection to any particular place. Nowhere to call my home town. But when you and I go to Disney World, the reason why I get choked up is because I'm home."
And I stopped and blinked. I realized that I had originally started this ruse as a con job to get Joe to consider bagging any wedding plans and just buy
DVC membership with the money. But as the con went on, I starting speaking from somewhere inside. I really wanted us to join DVC. And Joe just stared at me without emotion.
"What? Quit it... stop staring." I tried to sigh but gave up. The jig was up.
He started staring but eventually broke into a slight smile, "I know what you're doing, y'know. You're using your 'not feeling well' card, and throwing in the 'poor military brat' and trying to get me to agree that we should buy a DVC."
"Am not..." I muttered as I sipped my tea. YIKES! It's HOT!
"Ok," Joe chuckled.
"Ok, what?"
"I said 'ok,'" he said with a sigh.
"Say it in a complete sentence before I believe you."
With a roll of the eyes, a long stretch and
that tone in his voice, Joe uttered, "Ok, let's not do the wedding thing and use the money to buy a DVC membership."
Woo hoo! He said it! DVC here we come! And I started doing the chair dance of happiness.
"BUT! We still need to get you a ring AND we're flying up to Toronto for the marriage license AND we're going to have a party."
So... I'm going to get a DVC membership, a ring and a party out of the deal. If you ask me, that's a pretty nice way to celebrate our 15th anniversary in October, 2005, huh?
Now we just have to start scrimping and saving over the next year. I figure with my new job and Joe's upcoming raise, we can save about $15k without too much trouble at all. That's what we were going to spend on a wedding. That would pay for the bulk of a DVC, right?
I'm still wondering if he'll go and get me some White Castle.
Sure hope you're enjoying the new job and congrats on talking Joe into buying DVC!
I didn't think it would be that easy for you. Congratulations on EVERYTHING: the anniversary, the ring, and of course the DVC! I'm very happy for the two of you!! Keep us posted...I love reading your very detailed posts! 
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Congratulations! 
