By JEFF HEINZ

Kirkland Reporter Contributor

Kirkland resident Jeff Heinz recounts an unusual event he captured on camera recently:

A few weeks ago on a Wednesday evening, my wife Roxann and I headed over to the Marina Park Farmers Market as we do most Wednesday evenings in the summer. There is a little park – Marina Park – on Lake Washington and it is only blocks from home. Just like most walks we go on, I was packing along the camera to capture any cool happenings that get in my way. Flowers, berries, jewelry, honey, handmade soap … and, who would have guessed, a juggler!

So doing what I do, I caught a few shots from a good distance away and didn’t think much more about it. More berry stands and a few more food vendors and we had made it through the first pass.

“Hello, excuse me,” I hear, and turn toward a guy standing next to his girlfriend, and he is holding a camera. We thought maybe he wanted one of us to take their photo so we walked over to them. They were purposefully standing quite close to the “facilities” building, which was kind of odd until this guys explains the situation. He says, “You see that guy over there juggling?”

“Ha, ha,” I laughed inside, how could we miss him? “He is our friend and he is getting ready to propose to his girlfriend that is sitting in front of him. I am not going to be able to get any good pictures because she will see us if we try to get close enough. Would you do us a favor and take a few pictures and email them to me?”

Since I love to photograph just about any strange spontaneous situation that happens, I figured a juggler getting ready to propose fit right in! Rox and I moved in closer, sat down, and I began to capture the event.

More juggling. Then I would swing over and get a few of his girlfriend sitting patiently chatting with curious kids as they watch the juggler. Then more juggling.

About 10 minutes into the photo session I see him turn away from his girlfriend, pull out his cell phone and take a peek, and then switch to some different balls. I say to Rox, “Pay attention, here it comes, he is going for it!”

The details in the next photo I took were not seen until we were at home later that night reviewing them. Look closely at the ball in the air and you can see the words, “ Will You…,” written on the yellow patch. He then lets it go her way, she catches it, and reads it …

As he takes the ball with the ring in it and begins to tear it open, she is starting to understand what is happening. I think she is saying, “Oh my gosh, I cant look!”

And then, the magic moment! She says, “Yes!”

And then a bunch of family and friends come from all over. They must have been waiting in the wings watching it all happen! It was very cool to get the opportunity to witness this happening. It was even more special that I was able to capture this all for them and the next day present a package of 85 photos that tells the story of the day they became engaged.

Just a few days ago, Jon the juggler (Jon Zabriskie, of Fall City) came to my office and brought a “thank you” card along with a lovely bottle of wine to show their appreciation. On Friday evening they sat together as a family and looked at the photos and in his words, “had goose bumps.” Thanks to this guy, Josh, and his girlfriend, that asked me to help, Jon the Juggler and his future bride Sarah, have some great photo memories of the Marina Park Proposal!

Best wishes to Jon and Sarah!