It’s not always the large, spectacular gestures that stick with us the longest. Sometimes, it’s the small, personal ones that are full of meaning, intention, and a little bit of magic. That’s what I kept thinking about as I read Tampa Airport Proposal, A Love Story, and in particular, one part that hit me right in the heart: the necklace and the ring.
Now, sure, we’ve all seen our share of proposals, either in real life or splashed across social media. They often follow the same script: a surprise, a question, some happy tears, maybe a crowd clapping in the background. But this one was different. It wasn’t just about that time. It was about everything that had happened before it, the memories that came with it, and the symbolism that was all over it. The more I thought about it, the more I understood the importance of the presents given during the proposal.
Let’s begin with the necklace.
A turquoise stone. Four diamonds. At first, that could appear easy, but as you look at the story more closely, it becomes a lot more. Nancy’s birthstone is turquoise because she is a Sagittarius. Tom owns the gems. That says a lot already. It’s not merely a nice mix. It shows who they are, where they came from, and who they are becoming together now. I think about it. You’re wearing something on your chest that holds your story and the story of the person you love right there close to your heart. That’s not just jewelry. That’s the intention.
And there’s this sweet little detail that I can’t get out of my head. A psychic had told Nancy she’d see four diamonds in her future. And then it happened. Here comes Tom with this necklace, complete with four tiny diamonds wrapped around a center stone. Call it coin evidence. Call it fate. Either way, it’s poetic, right?
But the symbolism doesn’t stop there. The ring that followed was just as meaningful, if not more.
Nancy had mentioned loving Asscher-cut diamonds. They’re elegant, vintage-looking, and full of depth, much like her, from what I gather. Tom didn’t just buy her a ring. He conducted the research, spoke with her best friends, and involved her in the process. He knew she had spent years managing jewelry stores and had never been given a large diamond wedding ring in any of her previous marriages. This time, he wanted it to be different. He wanted her to feel truly seen.
And she did.
This is the thing. We could discuss rings and necklaces all day, exploring their meanings: love, commitment, eternity, and connection. However, something much larger happens when you choose the right one. It becomes a point in time. Every time you look at it, it evokes a feeling. That necklace with turquoise and diamonds? That’s not just “the necklace Tom gave me.” It’s the start of something new. It’s the story of two people who reconnected after 60 years and decided to make up for all the time they had lost.
There’s something extraordinary about how thoughtful all of it was. These weren’t generic gifts. They weren’t bought at the last minute at a department store. They were deliberate. Specific. They reflect who Nancy is and how Tom feels about her. And that, in a way, says more than any proposal speech ever could.
I think that’s why symbolic gifts in romance matter so much. They hold laye s. They remind us that someone has paid attention, that they’ve remembered your birthstone, your taste in jewelry, or that random comment you made months ago about what kind of bouquet you’d carry at your wedding.
And speaking of bouquets, even though the story doesn’t go into floral details during the proposal, it’s not hard to imagine that if there had been one, it would’ve been just as meaningful. Perhaps sunflowers because they are bright and devoted. Or peonies to start over. Roses, too, maybe poetic if you choose the appropriate color. Every flower has its way of speaking, and every arrangement offers a small narrative.
I don’t think we always realize the power of these tiny choices. It’s easy to brush them off as trivial or decorative, but they’re not. If you pick a flower, a gemstone, or even a favorite meal to share with someone, you’re showing them a piece of how you see them. You’re saying, “I know you. See you. and I love what I see.”
That’s what Tom did. And that’s what Nancy received.
And maybe that’s the part I loved most about their whole story. It wasn’t just about two people getting engaged. It was about two people choosing to see each other clearly after decades of life had passed them by. Their symbols weren’t just pretty things. They were anchors. They helped tell a story that words alone couldn’t capture.
We live in a world that’s moving fast. Relationships start with swipes and end with ghosting. But stories like Tom and Nancy’s remind us that some things don’t go out of style. Living a life that matters, paying attention, and listening.
Everything counts, from a gemstone to a bouquet to a love note on a serviette to a phone call late at night when you know they’ve had a hard day.
So, if you ever want to show someone you care, don’t overthink. Just remember the symbols. Remember what makes them who they are. It doesn’t have to be expensive or flashy. It just has to be real.
And if you haven’t read Tampa Airport Proposal, A Love Story yet, I’d highly recommend giving it a look. You can learn more about the author, Dr. Thomas McMeekin, and the journey that inspired the book over at thomasmcmeekin.com.
There’s a good chance it’ll leave you thinking about your symbols, your own love stories, and maybe even that necklace or bouquet you never realized meant so much—until now.