Dating Outlook

My friends (a couple) got married last Saturday.

It is really hard for me to come to grips with reality and realize that yes, I am in fact old enough for the people around my age – including my (gasp!) friends – to get married. They are off making life commitments to each other. “Til death do us part.� The Word says so. I on the other hand, have issues committing to a picking up the office payroll. Who knows? I might get stuck in traffic/what if I get in a car accident?/the (gorgeous mmm) FedEx guy might show up at my door…whatev. Any and/or all of the above are plausible consequences to my aforementioned “commitment.� Til DEATH DO US PART?! Really?

Does it count if either of us is responsible for said (accidental of course! Sheesh!) death… of one or the other? What if we just so happened to become so passionate in love that one of us licks and therefore eats the other alive? What if my beloved (let’s pretend it’s the FedEx guy, k?) actually spoon-feeds himself to me (like frozen custard!) in order to “become oneâ€? with me? Does the “til deathâ€? rule have a cannibalism clause? I must say, that really is a whole new take on that Spice Girls hit…(singing…totally on key) When two become one… anyway…

Hey, I just want to know what I’m in for when I’m committing to anything (or anyone! for that matter), for life… Hmm… I may need to consult a lawyer…sounds a bit like a contract to me… “Each party MUST refrain from biting to wherefore said teeth protrusion breaks skin and therefore leads to the eating of the other alive…� Now that’s romance. I’m getting giddy. (Sarcasm, people…read it. Please, just roll your eyes and move on.)

What is my deal, man? Is my mom right? Have I just not found the “right one� yet? Or am I just a commit-o-phobe/ relationship-relunct? What is the fundamental difference between me … and a marital maven?

I guess it goes without saying that G and I are over. He’s been in New Zealand now for two months.

We hung out again after I got back from visiting home during Christmas. We went out to a really great Italian restaurant to catch up. He brought me almond champagne and we went out east to celebrate one of my friend’s birthday. It was the first time he was meeting anyone in my group of friends…besides of course for the mutual friend who introduced us.

I remember being weary of the thought of G, the gentleman, the well-to-do, well-educated prep, gorgeous and dark featured rich kid meeting my friends… I don’t know if I was caught up in a twisted fixation of my own judgment, or what it was that made me nervous… I guess I was scared I wouldn’t be “myself.� Whoever the hell that is. I was scared of being put on the spot by my friends. What if they thought I was putting on a show for G if I wasn’t being my loud and obnoxious self? What if they didn’t like him? What if he didn’t like them? Would it matter?

It is a little sobering to think about… because I guess the only way I can explain it was that I honestly thought he was better than me. Like I had some secret about myself I needed to hide. I was so afraid of him finding out that I’m imperfect (gasp!) that I kept pushing him away with all my might…hoping the opposite wouldn’t inevitably occur.

It’s been awhile. I’ve been on hiatus…studying for the GRE, taking the GRE, researching grad schools… it’s been a trip. Admittedly, not as cool as the trip to Japan I’m about to go on in two months, but a trip nonetheless. Here’s hoping.

Looks like I’ve got some catching up to do.

Since my sabbatical, I have dated a few men… a single dad originally from Minnesota who just so happens to live in my neighborhood in San Diego. I met him on the plane ride home for Christmas. I was seated next to him and his eight year old daughter. Now, I know I’ve read about how women automatically think too much into dating. We look way too far ahead for our own good. I would have to say that I’m guilty of doing that. Although, I think I do it to a different degree.

Here is this single dad. He teaches special needs children. He is involved with his daughters’ extra-curricular activities and even helps coach softball. He has an amazing sense of humor, is good looking and pretty much has a heart of platinum.

In a word: great. No, not great. Great! He deserves a capital “G.� Pretty sure his personality is who I eventually see myself with for the long haul…but the timing is just so off. That and, I guess I came to the ugly realization that I am too selfish to come second. Because of course, that’s the way it would have to be. He is a father. His little girl must be priority one. I’m not ready –and I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready—to settle for being put on the back burner.