Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Long-Term Dating

I tend to make assumptions pretty regularly.

I assume everyone thinks I'm funny.

I assume my feet have stopped growing.

I assume chocolate will always be a viable breakfast option.

When I was dating my wife, I also assumed we would never break up.

This wasn't really an issue until the Dave Matthews Band came to town and my sister wanted to go. Since we wanted to make sure to get good seats, I staggered out of bed one Saturday morning to get in line for tickets.


I assumed (notice a pattern here?) that my wife (then girlfriend) would be willing to go too, so I got in line intending to purchase three tickets.

That's when I attempted math (something I should never try without a calculator present) and realized the concert was still several months away. Technically, that meant my girlfriend could come to her senses and realize she could do better.

So, I thought I would confront this dilemma head on. I called her up and this is a rough approximation of the resulting conversation:

Nathan: ... Hey ... Sorry to bug you so early on a Saturday.

Saintly Girlfriend: (Trying not to sound groggy) Oh, it's no problem.

Nathan: I'm in line to buy tickets for the Dave Matthews Band concert for my sister and me, and I wanted to see if you'd be interested in going too.

Saintly Girlfriend: That sounds like fun. Sure. I'd love to.

Nathan: Here's the catch. It's not for another 5 months. ... So ... do you think you'll still be around at that point?

(That's me. Smooth as sandpaper.)

Saintly Girlfriend: ... Um, yeah. I think I'll still be here.

(Honestly, what did I expect her to say? Yes, I'll marry you?)

Nothing says awkward like getting a call from your boyfriend at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning to ask about your level of commitment to the relationship.

8 comments:

Shorty said...

Well, hey... it sounds like you both were very polite about the situation! Perhaps you could take comfort in the idea that she, too, breathed a sigh of relief when it was confirmed that the two of you planned on being together for the next half of that year, and beyond!

Long dark hair, blue eyes said...

That is very funny. Glad to hear you were still together when the concert came around. Otherwise it could have been very awkward.

krystal said...

You're braver than I was. Around that same time I bought tickets to the Phantom of the Opera several months in advance. I just figured I would take someone else if we weren't together anymore. I always have admired your less cynical take on life.

politicchic6 said...

I would say this is a more classy DTR than being ambushed two hours away from home at the tail end of a ten hour drive during a road trip. That is what my husband chose to do. But this is before we broke up or got back together. Twice.

Jill said...

I learned the same lesson when my boss had me set up the voice mail for "Secretary" and not my name

Jill said...

I learned the same lesson when my boss had me set up the voice mail for "Secretary" and not my name

Tia said...

you a SUCH a guy.

seriously. =)

Rachel said...

hahahaha...that is awesome.