Thursday, January 8, 2009

How to dump some one you're not dating...

***Warning...I wrote this yesterday and as I am proof reading before I publish post, I realize it's really not very entertaining. Just a memory I thought was worth writing down.***

I listened some music the other day. Music from a mixed Cd a boy had made me my freshman year of college. I held on to this Cd, not because of the memories attached to this boy, but because it's a pretty decent Cd. Anyway, the music brought back a flood of memories that I thought were perfect for a Flashback Friday.

Travis asked me out my freshman year. Right off, I really had no interest in even a date, but I generally would go on one date when asked. I have always hated turning some one down. It takes a lot of effort to ask someone out. So despite his poor choice in wardrobe, I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun we had. He had an unusual and refreshing taste in music and he took me on the best dates. We rode the alpine slides, went to a melodrama at the Pickleville Playhouse, out for ethnic food, to hockey games, the planetarium, out to lunch in the middle of the school week, and to this annual competition on the ski slopes that the engineering department puts on where students built remote control robots to ski down the hill. It was fantastic. The list could go on.

But after a few such dates, I realized that though I could overlook (and possibly even change) his poor sense of style, there was no real connection there (to borrow a term from reality TV). We had all kinds of fun. Conversation was always good. Music was always superb. But I could see that this was not meant to be. So I made a decision that if he ever tried to put the moves on...even hold my hand, put his arm around me, I'm talkin' bare minimum...I would let him know that I wasn't interested. So we went on going out at least twice a month for about seven months. I was starting to think he felt the same. Maybe he had just as much fun and needed a friend. After all...seven months and no physical relationship?

Travis was quite a bit older than me. I was just a freshman and he had a real job and was working on his masters. So I finally decided that this was unfair to him. He should not be spending so much time and money on some one who really wasn't interested. But how do you break up with someone you're not really with? It was incredibly awkward. I didn't want to go through the whole thing and have him tell me he wasn't interested to begin with...he was just having fun. Then I would feel like an idiot...assuming that he liked me. And I knew if I went through with it, all the fun would end. We probably wouldn't even be friends.

I finally got the nerve to have the chat. He looked surprised and hurt. He thanked me and left my apartment. But was back the next day to profess his love. He begged for another chance. We went out one more time. But that was the end of it. Spencer and I ran into him and his wife at Disneyland on their honeymoon a couple years later. Disneyland WOULD NOT have been a satisfactory honeymoon for me. So all turned out well.

Not really that great of a story. I was a poor journal keeper at that point in my life and I always feel the need to write things down. I have a horrible fear of loosing my memories. But for a bit of entertainment, the most embarrassing date I went on was with him.

We went out for lunch at a Chinese place one day. I was trying to use my spoon to cut a piece of won ton in my won ton soup. The whole won ton was too big for one bite and who politely uses a knife and fork in their soup bowl? A spoon was my only option. As I trapped the won ton between my spoon and the bowl and applied pressure, I tipped the entire bowl of won ton soup on my lap. I had a skirt on and when I stood, it looked like I wet myself. We ate a really long lunch in hopes my skirt would dry a little before I had to stand and walk out. Then I awkwardly carried my purse in front of me on the way to the car.

13 comments:

Lauri said...

How is it that I have never heard this story. I vaguely remember a CD but don't remember that this went on for 7 months. Thanks for giving me a good laugh while the students are watching a video on forensics.

Autumn said...

Glad you had a purse to cover yourself. I have the EXACT same fear of forgetting things. Glad I get to read some of them!

AKA Rosa said...

Okay..... I love stuff like this. Your blog is so fun to read!! Oh and BTW.....I totally cut my won tons in my soup with my spoon.

Kelly said...

You have the funniest stories, Katie!! I am still laughing- the soup is hilarious, and though I have never dumped the bowl on myself, I have been in that same dilemna- dang won tons!!
I had to dump a guy once- it wasn't pretty, but he didn't seem to mind- perhaps he was just waiting for me to do it! Thanks for always making me laugh!

Shalece said...

Love the memories, it's fun to peek into other people's minds, I enjoyed reading your story! It reminded me of a similar situation in high school

Kris said...

Loved that story Katie. My most embarrassing, go nowhere date was pretty funny too. Should I post it on my blog or here?

Amanda B. said...

I thought this was a great story!!! When I was in college, I was dating someone who was here for the summer, but the went back to Idaho. I thought he really liked me, but same thing- no physical contact which seemed odd. When he went back to Idaho, he still called me regularly, but then that is when Aaron and I started dating again and then became engaged. I was going to tell him myself, but before I could- he called my house and asked my dad the address to my work so he could have flowers sent. And my dad said "but she's engaged..." and he just said "oh.." and hung up. I felt horrible!!! I called and apologized but still always felt bad he found out that way....

You always have such great stories and tell them well! :)

Traci Elizabeth said...

I thought Travis was the guy you were engaged to? maybe a different Travis..I don't remember. So, long ago.

Great story. Isn't it funny how music brings back the memory? I have a HORRIBLE memory so I am grateful for moments when song will help me out.

Lisha said...

I always love your stories Katie but I think I've got you beat when it comes to embarrassing date stories. I once fell down a flight of stairs in a formal dress and then same date, I nailed myself in the head with a racket ball. But My all time favorite embarrassing date story would have to be the time Bryce and I were kissing at the park and a middle-aged man plops down on the grass next to us and proceeds to tell us of his favorite parks that he had sex with his wife at. Yikes! Needless to say we left in a hurry after that and we never sit and kiss at the park anymore.

Karen said...

Thanks for the funny story! I try to forget my embarrassing dating stories. I have some good ones.
I hope all is well with you. It would be fun to see ya again!

amelia said...

Disneyland. DISNEYLAND! I would also not be cool with that as a honeymoon.

jeanine said...

This was a great story! I need to go back and write down some of my stories...

Genn said...

Thanks for sharing that memory. How embarassing to spill your soup at the restaurant. I would totally do something like that. Actually, years ago, when I was a server at Mimi's Cafe I was bringing drinks to a party of 12. I had most of their drinks on one big tray and as I set them down before them, the balance on the tray began to shift. I had one drink (luckily just ice water) left to set down, and the entire thing tipped right into the Grandmas lap! I was mortified.

Funny that you ran into him again at Disneyland. That would so not be the ideal honeymoon for me either!