Sometimes - actually, a lot of times - I have these incredible revelations. I realize things. Things about myself, things about others, things about this out-of-this-world world we live in. And truthfully, I would say over half of these so-called revelations hit me not when I'm in a classroom or watching television or reading something intelligent. Rather, they hit me while I'm sitting in a retirement home near my house, visiting my "adopted grandparents". Sweet little, crackly-voiced Verna and her well-seasoned, dry-humored husband Bill. They're old. But oh, they are some of my favorite people to talk with, to share with, to laugh with, to listen to, to hug and love and cherish. In other words, they're pretty darn cool.
And I've always been enamored with old couples like Bill and Verna. I find them weirdly inspiring. Maybe it's because they've spent so many years together. And lasted. Maybe it's because they have a genuine and sincere love for one another. Maybe it's because they prove the superficial, shallow, impulsive mentality of my generation way wrong. And I like it.
When I did a biography about Verna for a class awhile ago, she insisted that we include boys as a part of her story. As she recounted it all for me, she spoke of boyfriend after boyfriend, and soon I was sitting there thinking, Here we go again. Even my "grandma" knows more about boys than me. What is this, some kind of joke? Perhaps it was the funny look on my face or perhaps it was the fact that she just wanted to clarify. Either way, she felt the need to let me know what her idea of a boyfriend entailed. She said, "You're probably thinking, "Oh my," but let me tell ya, our boyfriends back then weren't anything real serious. Boyfriend had a different meaning. We just kind of looked at each other with special eyes. And sometimes we'd see a picture show together." And that was the extent of it. It's a concept called dating. And call me crazy, but it sounds intriguing.
Now, you're probably thinking I don't get out much. You're thinking that I'm some ignorant loser for having never heard of dating. But I'm talking real dating. Not the "you're my girlfriend/boyfriend so now we can go on a date" thing. Or the one time little fling from the bar. That's not the dating I mean.
Why is it so wrong to go on a couple of dates here and there without being exclusive? It's not. And why is it so difficult to keep it a little wholesome and fall in love with their personality first? It doesn't have to be. The problem is due to the fact that we're either too afraid or too rushed. We worry that people will assume that our casual date is something more than casual before we've decided that for ourselves. Or we rush. We justify skipping the "getting to know each other" part by trying to get to know each other in all the wrong ways. And then the potential relationship is based on a whole bunch of potential nothing.
But who cares. This is the present, right? That's how it is now. And for many people, that works. But my wish is that dating could be like fashion. You know, where the old stuff comes back in style later? Yes; that's what I would like. I mean, a girl can dream. And for an old-fashioned girl like me, that's a heck of a lot of dreaming.
So. Here goes nothing.
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