05 September, 2012

Love Hurts

I really fell for Brett. Really.
Like, yesterday.

I was at my parents' for a Labor Day cookout, and my phone rang. I was in the living room, but my phone was in the kitchen, and as I rushed in there I tripped over my dad's footstool and stumbled. I tried to right myself, but...
(image: plungede.org)

You know, this exact thing happened the first time I did a Polar Bear Plunge: You rush headlong at the surf, and as soon as you get to the point where you are no longer picking up your feet higher than the water, the water slows your feet, but your body continues with its original momentum. Next thing you know, you're on your knees rolling in the 40* surf.

...yeah. That, except this time "the surf" was a footstool. Dudes, I wish I had this on video. It had to be grand. As my feet tried to catch up to my body, I may or may not have been flailing my arms like a cartoon character running off a cliff. I saw my life flash before my eyes, but not the past, just the next few seconds: In an instant I saw exactly how this would end, and I was right. But not on the carpeted living room. No. In my few flailing steps from the footstool, I had crossed into the kitchen area. I bounced off my mom's gorgeous, Brazilian cherry-wood floor. Well, not bounced exactly. I left a skidmark. It was pretty gross. Back in the kitchen after cleaning up my oozey knee in the bathroom, I noticed a streak on the gorgeous Brazilian cherry-wood about an inch wide and two-and-a-half feet long. I asked Mom if that was from me and she laughed and said, "It must be. I just did the floors this morning." (Funny, Mom.)

EEWWW! Dudes, there were bits and pieces of my skin all along this trail. My skin belongs on me, not on the floor! Granted, it's not like my leg was lying next to me at an obscene angle, but yuck. (That's a link to Jamie R. Hawkins' debut post. Read it. It's pretty detailed.)

But I didn't notice the track I left until later. Initially, I just glanced down and saw that yes, there was loose skin and blood on my knee, and then attended to the phone. It was Brett. Of course I had to answer with "I really fell for you, Brett!" hahaha

Now Brett, fully aware that I fell for him some time ago, was clearly trying to sort that out. After a brief, confused-sounding chuckle, he must have decided that the logic was beyond him, and said, "Um...what?"

Yeah, it's a lame pun, but how often does the opportunity come to show off battle scars from the game of love?
(just for those of you tracking the jigsaw pieces of a total image of me.)
Seriously, Brett's right. I tumbled for him long ago. (Starting in March, I figure.)
...feeling lost? I added a page about our "Saga" above.

I know a lot of you have enjoyed watching this relationship develop. Believe me, it has been unexpected for me. Gloriously unexpected. Nothing about us is "normal". THANK GOD! Normal means dating.

I'm not huge on the whole dating scene. A couple years ago I made a conscious decision that it wasn't worth my time anymore. Too phony. What is a date? Two people going out to do (usually) something in a manufactured setting, and trying to impress each other. Occasionally I've stuck it out long enough to try to get beyond the "impress each other" phase, but frankly, if I see a red flag, I'm gone. What's the point? I'm comfortable on my own; I don't require romance, but if I'm going through the agony of dating, isn't it subconsciously with the hope expectation that there is a deeper relationship coming? If I see a red flag and know it's something I can't deal with, why keep wasting both our time?

Extreme? I don't think so.

I've never understood women who love a man "except". "He'd be perfect if only..." "I love him except for..." Yeah, I had a friend who was with the man who perfectly complemented her in every way...but he cheated on her. Repeatedly. Dude. RED FLAG! I'm not looking for a project. If I see a red flag, that is my exit sign.

(image: ktvn.com)

Brett and I have actually talked about red flags. ...apparently our openness to discuss whether or not we have any direct issues with each other is weird.

We've been asked by our friends and family about any red flags we may have noticed.
We've asked each other what kinds of things we might not yet know about each other (living habits, etc.) that could become a red flag down the road.

...My teenage niece said it would be my genetic necessity to be right. Guess what? Brett has that necessity, too. We have very entertaining discussions without ever getting angry.
It's stimulating.
It's awesome.
...It's rare. Usually guys trying to impress me don't try to argue with me. Very boring of them.

Somehow, the fact that we both were blogging from different areas of the country made it possible for us to be instantly beyond the "trying to impress" phase. There's none of that. When my geographic situation changed and we met, we were left with instant compatability, instant affection, instant attraction, instant synchronicity.

It's bizarre.
It's stunning.
It's delightful. And a little scary.

Love hurts...but only physically. My advice? Walk, don't run, when the phone rings.

30 comments:

  1. Glad you two are still going strong. And doing really well from the sound of it. I'm happy for the both of you.

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    1. Thank you! I couldn't be happier, personally.
      ...well, maybe if I had a job I'd be overall happier...

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  2. Haha! Good advice. My phone is my work phone, I never run for that. I can always call the missus back. In fact, she prefers if I miss it and I call her back, then work pays for it ;)

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    1. Yeah, I don't know why I ran...except that it was quite a distance. And really, that footstool is ALWAYS there. I'm just a goober.

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  3. I love you. Skinned knees and all. If we lived closer together you could skin your knees answering the door instead of answering the phone.

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    1. haha...there's a million ways I'd skin my knees for you!

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  4. Yeah, at my old place I only had reception on the porch. So I got really good at the dead run dodge the dog, leap over the cat, put one hand out so I can push off the door frame don't slide on the rug phone grab.

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    1. Nice! ...of course, you are Queen Holly the Magnificent, so I would expect nothing less. ;-)

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  5. Ouch. But I guess it's a good pain, yes? :) I'm happy for both of you, and glad you found you are so compatible. I know there were some nerves from both of you when you moved closer. Instant attraction and compatibility is rare. So glad you guys somehow made that happen!

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    1. I'm told by my close friends that our closeness is weird. But we figured out early on...like that first day together, that we can follow our instincts. Our instincts are the same.

      If only we lived closer!

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  6. The more I read of this story, the more it makes me smile. It doesn't sound too good to be true, it sounds just right! I believe in love, and all that should go with it. Like you, I'm way past the "project relationships." I'm wishing wonderful things to continue for both of you, though let's keep that falling thing less literal in the future! Mom's floor will thank you! :-)

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    1. I know! Like Goldilocks and the three bears: Just Right. In oh so many ways.

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  7. My husband and I argue all the time, but it's not a real fight, it's who is right about what year Big Trouble In Little China was made, or what song the Nelson Brothers actually sang. It's our idea of conversation.

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    1. Exactly. People don't understand that there's a difference between a voice raised because you are passionate about the subject, and a voice raised in anger.

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  8. I fell for a guy once. Broke three toes. You know what a doctor did for me when I broke three toes? Nothing. I didn't even get that ugly blue shoe.

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  9. Awww!!! I'm so happy for you guys! And it's so nice to be twitterpated and in new-ish love! (I know you guys have been seeing each other for a while, but hopefully this stage will last for a long time!).

    Last time I fell, it was in the parking lot at work. While wearing a dress, I fell off a curb. And flashed everyone my granny panties.

    Not my proudest moment...

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    1. Twitterpated is a good word! I can't imagine not having my heart this full. We keep overflowing into texts during the day.

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    2. Dude, twitterpated is the best word ever.

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  10. Wow. I haven't broken anything yet for Brett. ...I don't think. He did pop my back, but that's just a crack. HA!

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    1. (um...this^ is supposed to be a reply to NellieVaughn...)

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  11. I've said this before, but the Red and Brett story makes me smile every time!

    It does my heart good to hear how happy the two of you are:) *Sigh* Love is dreamy.

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    1. The Red and Brett story makes me smile, too.
      ...and it does my heart good, too. :)

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  12. Ow! I hope your knees heals up. Thank goodness you posted a bandaged picture and not a open wound picture.

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    1. Yeah, it was kind of gross...and bright, bright red blood. I am kicking myself, though, that I didn't snap a quick picture of the track I left on the floor!

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  13. I'm starting to worry that we're all so happy seeing this love story unfold that if you guys ever fall out of love, you might feel some pressure not to break up.

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    1. You know, I can't even envision that scenario.

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  14. Hey there Red :) This was really nice to read - I'm so happy that everything is going on well for both of you!

    I'm sorry I've been so quiet - I've just been distracted with life and all the new stuff I'm going through. I quit the hotel job as the environment, mainly due to the clientele the hotel attracted, wasn't very good. Tomorrow I start my new job which will be as a preschool teacher... fingers crossed it will go well. I'm a little concerned because one adult to 15 small children seems ridiculous - I like to engage the children I'm with - not just watch over them... however, with 15 to supervise I'm afraid it's going to be more about keeping them safe and out of trouble. Anyway, going to give it my best shot and see how it goes.

    Thanks for tweeting to me :)

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    1. Hey, Lady! With the wifi connection on my laptop acting up, I've been unable to get into my blogs, so I'm tweeting a bit more. (still not much)

      I finally got my library card today, so should be able to do more. I hope. Good luck with the new job. I start a "temp to perm" position next week, that I have high hopes for.

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  15. You are one of those couples that helps me see how love should be. Happy for you (and Brett). I think we should do a family get together next summer at Cedar Point. Us old folks will watch the younguns while you kids ride :)

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    1. We'd love that. Working on financial stability and independence now, but by next summer I should be good to go!

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I enjoy a good debate. Feel free to shake things up. Tell me I'm wrong. Ask me why I have such a weird opinion. ...or, just laugh and tell how this relates to you and your life.