Who Says Masks Don’t Work?
Masks conjure up feelings for anyone living through the pandemic, especially medical personnel. But for Rhett Franklin and wife Lauren Gray, they will always symbolize of one of the biggest days of their lives.
Mr. Franklin worked in registration, often following Ms. Gray, an emergency room nurse, around with a wheeled computer station to gather patient information (what’s known as a “creeper,” which isn’t as creepy as it sounds). Eventually, she offered to grab a coffee with him, and when he suggested another coffee, she said it was time for him to buy her a drink.
Mr. Franklin, now a manager of business operations for nursing administration, originally planned to propose to Ms. Gray on a trip to England. But the pandemic prevented their vacation with its potential castle backdrop.
Mr. Franklin often picked up shifts making masks for frontline workers, and an alternate proposal idea started brewing. He schemed to have two very special masks made. “Mine was a black tuxedo that said, ‘Will you marry me?’ and hers resembled a white dress that said, ‘I said yes!’ ” Mr. Franklin says.
But a text almost ruined the surprise. When Mr. Franklin messaged family members about his proposal plan the day before, one relative responded in a group chat that included Ms. Gray. This was when the busy ER came to the rescue — no time to read texts. Family members also started calling Ms. Gray on the hospital’s phoneline as a distraction. Unfazed, Mr. Franklin simply moved up the proposal to that night.
At their favorite dog beach, as the sunset gleamed on the water, Mr. Franklin pulled his mask out and took a knee. He can’t recall what he said behind that mask. “It was kind of one of those blackout moments.” But Ms. Gray remembers for him — “You said ‘Let’s do this.’ ”
Warning Label
Everyone has different tastes. Some healthcare professionals have taken the medical theme further than these couples — maybe too far. A few have even faked life-threatening emergencies, showing up in the ER on a gurney with a made-up peanut allergy reaction or a severe injury and then pulling out a ring.
But who’s to judge? For some, thinking your partner is “dying” and then learning you’ve been tricked might not conjure up the warmest feelings. For others, apparently, it’s a virtual bouquet of roses.
A Few Proposal Pointers
If you’re planning to pop the question, this group says, “go for the medical setting!” But according to them, there are other must-haves to get that “yes” and the lifetime of wedded bliss, of course:
- Make it a hospital-wide morale-booster. “Everyone loves surprises,” Dr. Bean maintains. So, why not bring your colleagues in on the conspiracy? “Involving coworkers will strengthen relationships with their work family by leaving lasting memories for everyone,” he says. “In a busy medical setting, it’s usually unexpected, so it makes it extra special.”
- Have a backup plan. As healthcare professionals, you know that schedules get in the way of everything. So, practice that flexibility you will need as a marriage skill. When Mr. Franklin’s first two engagement locations fell though, he says, it was important to adapt and not panic when things went awry.
- Seize the moment. Think you can’t get engaged during residency? “Planning a proposal during intern year of residency is totally manageable,” Dr. Vemula says. “That way as residency progresses and you have more time, there is more time to focus on the wedding planning.” But she cautions that, “wedding planning during the intern year would be quite difficult.”
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.