A New Year's Surprise

My girlfriend and I had been living together for about 18 months. After enough hemming and hawing at her inquiries about 'when', I had convinced her that it would be quite some time and she let it go, finally. With the setting ripe, I asked her best friend how best to approach it since I wasn't sure if she would prefer a private or a public proposal. Her best friend was convinced that a public proposal would be a hit, and that the upcoming Scooter New Year's Party would be the place. This is a large group of old and dear friends that have been putting on an annual vintage scooter rally, who decided to rent out the top floor of a local hotel for a huge New Year's bash. As this was the last year to throw the rally, the party was a time to reminisce and celebrate the history they all shared. So it was incredibly embarrassing to my girlfriend when, at the end of all of the tear wrenching and laughter filled toasts, I stood up and proposed a toast of my own. The entire room hushed to look at the newbie, and then I dropped to my knee. My girlfriend was speechless! Before too long, someone shouted across the room, "well, are you going to say yes?". Even stunned, she managed a 'yes' but remained essentially speechless for the next 20 minutes. She was completely not expecting the proposal, and it was perfect... except in my own nervousness I placed the ring on the first finger she pushed my way, which happened to be her right hand....