A Journey to Matrimony: Overcoming Obstacles to Say "I Do"
- Ronnie L Richards
- May 9
- 5 min read
How would you feel, if I told you I loved you?
It's just something that I want to do
I'll be taking my time, spending my life
Falling deeper in love with you
So tell me that you love me too
Tell me that you love me too
Tell me that you love me too
~ Ed Sheeran How Would You Feel
Link to Ed Sheeran's How Would You Feel video
I had everything meticulously planned! We had been dating for almost a year, and this incredible woman had completely captured my heart. I knew without a doubt that I wanted to spend my life with her. So, on August 31, 2018, I prepared to propose to Michelle in the most unforgettable way! This wasn't going to be just any ordinary proposal. I teamed up with my cousin Joetta and her husband Greg, who hosted Karaoke at the Hitchin' Post in Kingfisher on Friday nights, to play Ed Sheeran's How Would You Feel for me. As I sang the song, I planned to walk over to Michelle during the final chorus (the lyrics above), drop to one knee, and present her with an engagement ring while singing the last line. I had even changed the last line to say, "Michelle, tell me that you will marry me."
You know what they say about the best laid plans—they have a way of changing unexpectedly! And that's exactly what happened, as something came up that stopped us from heading to the Hitchin' Post that night. That weekend turned out to be incredibly tough for Michelle. I can't recall the exact reason, but I vividly remember her sitting on my couch, tears streaming down her face on Sunday, September 2nd, feeling like her world was crumbling. Her sadness and fear tugged at my heartstrings. I couldn't shake the feeling that if we'd been able to follow through with my plans that Friday night, maybe she wouldn't have felt so overwhelmed on Sunday. Without a second thought, I dashed into my home office, grabbed the engagement ring I'd bought a month earlier, rushed back to the living room, dropped to my knees, hugged a tearful Michelle, and asked her to marry me. And guess what? She said Yes!
We had an exciting series of discussions about where we wanted to tie the knot and start our life together. I eagerly suggested Billings, Montana. I had spent six incredible months working there back in 1986, and I absolutely fell in love with the city and its wonderful people. We dove into researching what it takes to get married in Montana. Great news! You don't have to be a resident to get married there. However, if you want a Justice of the Peace to officiate, you need to book an appointment. Michelle jumped online and swiftly set us up with an appointment for Tuesday, September 18, at 12:30 pm at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings.
We embarked on our Montana adventure bright and early on Sunday morning, the 16th. We zoomed north on I-35, almost bidding farewell to Oklahoma before we encountered the largest raccoon we've ever seen—it was as big as a coyote! Really! It caused quite a bit of damage to the front of Michelle's car.
But with determination, we managed to limp along the shoulder for a couple of miles until we reached an exit ramp. There, just off the Interstate, was an old, abandoned gas station where we parked. Michelle quickly contacted her insurance company, and they promptly dispatched a tow truck. Once the driver had the car securely on the flatbed, we hopped in, and he towed us back to my house. Michelle and I then jumped into my car and followed the tow truck to the body shop, eager to see the damage in the daylight. Unfortunately, it looked just as bad as it had in the dark.
At first, we were unsure of our next move, but then we decided that nothing, not even Rocky Raccoon, would stand in the way of our wedding! We realized we still had time to make it to Billings for our appointment if we quickly jumped into my car and hit the road. We hurriedly transferred our luggage, and Michelle left her car keys in the body shop's key drop. With determination, we set off! About seven hours after our encounter with the raccoon, we passed by it again. Seeing it a second time only reinforced our initial impression—it was one massive raccoon, possibly bigger than a coyote!
We arrived in Billings on Monday evening, filled with excitement for the big day ahead! Tuesday morning, we set off to downtown Billings, eager to tie the knot. As we cruised through the vibrant streets, I was thrilled to show Michelle the sights of a city I had spent six months in and fell in love with. Suddenly, Michelle unexpectedly passed out in the passenger seat! I quickly pulled over, my heart racing. Her pulse was so fast, I could barely count it! Thanks to Google Maps, I discovered we were just a couple of minutes from the nearest emergency room. As I drove into the entrance, Michelle came to, and I rushed her inside, explaining what happened. The medical team sprang into action, getting her into a bed and hooked up to an EKG machine. Her pulse slowed down but was still too quick. They kept her for several hours to ensure everything was stable. We discovered she'd experienced a Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) episode, something that had happened before but never like this.
We missed our marriage appointment with the Justice of the Peace, but that's okay! With the raccoon adventure and the heart episode, we decided not to get married on this trip. Instead, we had a fantastic extra day in Billings before heading home, which allowed us to ensure her heart was behaving while we were near a hospital. On our journey back, we decided to wait until after the holiday season to tie the knot!
This time, since Billings didn't work out, we were thrilled to plan our wedding in Colorado! Our research revealed that Las Animas County, Colorado, didn't require an appointment to tie the knot at the courthouse. For some reason, we both felt no urge to get married in Oklahoma. So, on Sunday, September 24, 2019, we eagerly set off for Trinidad, Colorado. Everything was finally falling into place! No pesky raccoon to hinder our journey, and no Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) episode. Plus, even though it was February in Colorado, we made it to Trinidad without any weather problems.
The next morning, we eagerly headed to the Courthouse to embark on an exciting journey toward marriage. All we had to do was fill out the marriage Certificate and License provided by the Court Clerk, and just like that, we were married. It was incredibly simple and absolutely thrilling—finally!
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