The beginnings:
Jarod and Claire met in August of 2005 under less than usual circumstances. Claire was moving to Tulsa to get a masters in forensic science. To gain a better understanding of the city she messaged numerous people on Myspace to ask the usual questions: where to live, where to work, and what to do. What she didn't realize was that she sent out the most important message of her life, to her future husband. Jarod replied to the message and told her he would be glad to let her in on the secrets of Tulsa, and to contact him through an instant messenger service. After a few chat's they decided to meet. The first time they met, they spent hours talking about everything and nothing at the same time. Little did they know that those few hours would turn into days, weeks, months, and years of laughter, friendship, and love.
A short vocabulary lesson:
Before the story continues, everyone needs to get a short vocabulary lesson. Claire and Jarod have adopted their own word. So when you see it through-out the engagement story you will understand. Schmeegle (schmeegs, schmeegled, schmeegle-tart, etc.) n. v. aject, adv. Etc. can refer to people, animals, things, actions, etc. It was derived in theory from giddiness/tiredness and the word snuggle. Claire and Jarod use it a lot, so be expected to hear it a few 1000 times
The proposal:
"I was flying into Tulsa on Feburary 1, 2008 to see Jarod for our monthly visit. After running through airports and not thinking I would ever get to Tulsa I was ready to spend a few hours resting before dinner with Jarod and a few friends. On the way from the airport to Jarod's apartment I called my nephew to wish him a happy birthday (apparently my call allowed for Jarod's nervousness to go undetected). When we got back to his place I threw down my bags -thankfully- and we plopped down on his sofa to play with his DVR. Jarod asked me if we could watch the "schmeegle video". It is the one year anniversary picture slide show I had made for him. Well we had watched it two weeks ago and I really didn't want to, but Jarod made another cute plea to watch the video and I caved. As we were watching the video come to an end, something unexpected happened. Jarod had made a new video--a cartoon slideshow named "The Story of Schmeeglelot'. Well me being the sap that I am I looked at him inquisitively with tears in my eyes and asked him what it was. As I watched on, I was giggling with a few tears running down my face at the hand drawn cartoon that Jarod had made and narrated in a distorted voice. Well at the very end of the cartoon it said "Sir Jarod to deep breath, turned to the fare maiden, looked her in the eyes, and asked her' and then he turned to me and asked me to marry him. I was CRYING and said yes without hesitation. I cried for the next hour or more. The proposal was everything I could have wanted and was perfect for the two of us."
Where they are now:
Jarod and Claire are now, more than likely, separated by 1200 miles. Jarod lives in Tulsa and works as a web developer for an eCommerce diamond sales company. He is finishing up his certificate in Web Development and. Claire lives in Greenville, NC with their trusty companion midget the dog. She is working on her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology and is most-likely either wedding planning, studying, or at the beach.
