Chapter 9 - The 20-Year Old Proposal

(June 10, 1986)

James said "We were gearing up on what was to be a 2-week trip to Utah to see the national parks. I had taken Ann to a few of the national parks before, so this was nothing new."

James, then 25 years of age, was packing up his stuff in a 1972 Wombat RV that has seen better days. It had belonged to his dad before he gave it to his son. He, along with his scientific posse, minus Drew, were at John Knight Hall at MIST.

"Dr. Possible, do you think this RV will hold?" Ramesh asked.

"Relax, Ramesh, this baby will make it through the trip!" James said with confidence. "We brought all our girlfriends along...unlike Drew!"

Both he and Ramesh chuckled. "He's probably living in his mother's basement."

Chen, in the meantime, was putting the food in the cabinets. "Do you want the marshmellows in the left or right cabinet."

"The left, Chen!" James suggested before turning back to Ramesh, "Now, I have a surprise in store for Ann, my girlfriend and I have chosen Zion as the perfect setting. Whatever you do, do not spill the surprise, especially to Ann!"

"We won't tell a single soul!" Ramesh agreed. Chen nodded his head as well, indicating his part of the plan. Little did they know that it was Ramesh and Chen's girlfriends who even suggested the idea of the trip.

Ann E. (AN: The E is for Elizabeth) Nomaly came up to the house. She, 24 at the time, was in acid-wash floral jeans, a MIST sweatshirt with shoulder pads on them showing off her midriff, leg warmers, a Swatch, giant neon hoope earrings, and a bowler hat. Of course, being that this was the 80s, Ann's red hair was in gigantic curls all the way past her shoulder.

"And there she was!" James said, passing along a photo of Ann in the photo album on that trip.

"Whoa!" Kim exclaimed, "Mom's outfit defitnitely screams Excessive 80s!"

"What else can I say? Your mother's outfit was quite the looker!" James laughed.

"Can we get back to the story, please, Dad?" Kim asked.

"Very well then, Kimmie-cub!" James replied, "As I was saying, we were going to give that RV one last good ride before we sold her to the scrapheap."

"James, are you sure this thing can make it to one national park, let alone five?" Ann questioned.

"Just chill, Ann. We will visit all of them!" James said with confidence.

"What about the picnic blanket?" Ramesh's girlfriend asked.

"Store it in the compartment over there!" Ramesh replied, pointing out to the compartment under the dining table.

"Did that RV even make it to Utah?" Kim asked.

"It took us 630 miles, but we finally made it to the Beehive State...and to Zion National Park. That magical day, the 18th, began with a picnic... " James began.

"That went wrong..." Ann muttered.

Ann was overseeing the damage of the picnic with bees swarming all over James' posse, trash all over the place, and a black bear was eating honey from the jar, along with the food that has been laid to waste by the bear. She was wearing an 1980s exercise outfit plus the leg warmers. Her normally long immaculate curls were doused with water.

James, Ramesh, and Chen had a few bee stings on their hands and all of their clothes were sopping wet after jumping in the water. Ramesh and Chen's girlfriends all had their clothes wet as well.

"Ready to jump back into the RV?" Ann asked.

"I'm with her on this!" James exclaimed as he got into the driver's seat and started the engine. "I should not have chosen that spot to hold a picnic!"

"Agreed!" echoed the chorus of Ramesh, Chen, and their significant others.

All four of the twenty-somethings piled into the RV as it sputtered out of the picnic area, belching gray smoke.

"That was so close!" Ramesh's girlfriend complained.

"My hair's all wet!" Chen's girlfriend whined.

"And my white labcoat has grape stains on it!" Ramesh groaned.

"Look, everyone! I know that the picnic didn't turn out the way I hoped, but I know something that would turn those frowns upside-down!" James proclaimed.

"And that's when you took me to Canyon Overlook!" Ann replied. "To make up for the picnic fiasco."

"I had to do something." James said, "We didn't have the Internet like we do today, so we had to rely on maps of the park to find it.

"Plus, he had to cover my eyes to the perfect spot." Ann added.

"Just a few more steps..." James proclaimed. Ann's eyes were covered by a blindfold James put on her.

"This view better be worth it, James. I hope you can make up the mess of the picnic from earlier."

Ramesh and Chen, meanwhile, were hiding behind a rock almost on the edge of the overlook.

"Should we take the picture?" Chen asked, "I've been holding this instant camera for two hours now!"

"No!" Ramish insisted, whispering, "We wait until Dr. Possible gives us the signal!"

"And stop!" James said. The couple were about 20 feet from the edge.

"Now can I take the blindfold off?" Ann asked.

"You may!" James replied with a smile.

Ann took the blindfold off and was captivated by the beauty of Zion Canyon. Her blue eyes took it all in.

"Oh my gosh! I can see almost the entire park from here This...this is beautfiul!"

James replied while Ann was transfixed by the canyon, "Actually, Ann, it's the second-most beautiful thing in this entire park...compared to you!"

Ann turned her head around and the next thing she saw was James on his right knee genuflecting to her and in his hand was a small black box with a gold engagement ring with a pear diamond.

"Ann E. Nomally, will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in Ann's eyes at this unexpected surprise by James. Out of all her emotion, she blurted out, "Yes! YES!"

James then put the ring on Ann's left hand, her ring finger.

She happily embraced James tightly around his waist and kissed him.

Ramesh and Chen emerged from the rock, clapping and cheering.

"Three cheers for the newly-engaged couple!" Ramesh exclaimed as he took out the instant camera. "Say...happy trails!"

Both Ann and James exclaimed "Happy trails!" And then they kissed each other again.

(back to the present)

"So me and Ann enjoyed that wonderful moment! We still have Ramesh's picture on my nightstand!" James explained.

"Yep, the view and ring definitely made up for everything that happened the rest of the trip." Ann added. "We eventually got married 8 months later."

"Did you manage to finish the Utah trip?" Ron asked.

"Unfortunately, no, Ronald. The only other park besides Zion that we managed to visit was Arches." James sighed, rubbing his back, "The transmission to the RV gave out and we had a flat tire."

"We used what was left of the money for the trip to pay for bus fare back to Middleton for all six of us." Ann explained.

"So that's why you wanted this year's family vacation to be at Utah." Kim said, figuring out her dad's plan.

"Yes, Kimberly! That is the Possible Plan!" James replied proudly, "To visit all 5 national parks of Utah as a family..."

Ron and Rufus both cleared their throats, feeling left out.

"Whoops...sorry..." James chuckled, correcting his mistake, "...plus Ronald and Rufus."

"So when do we leave, Dad?" Kim asked.

"We leave on the morning of the 10th, so be ready by then!" James answered.

"Okay, Dad! I'll totally be awake and alert!" Kim insisted.