Young Love

Last week I took my sister-in-law up to the University of Utah so she could take her CPA exam. After I dropped her off Sadie and I decided to wait fer her at a nearby park instead of going all the way home.

Being on a college campus again brought back some fond memories of my time in college and also reminded me that I am oh so glad to not be in that stage of life anymore. And by "that stage of life" I mean single and on the hunt. Here's why:

The eternal quest of being physically desirable. I am not saying that just because I am married I am, purposefully, letting my looks go to pot. I am just saying that it is nice to know that I have found somebody that likes me just the way I am, even when "just the way I am" is struggling to get off the baby weight. I remember dreading the "freshmen 15" so much that I didn't eat dessert for like 4 months. Well, the remembrance of that anxiety returned when I saw a constant string of college boys trying to become perfect specimens of muscularity. I really wish that I had brought a camera because there are some things that just can't be adequately described with words, but I will give it my best shot. At this park there was a set of monkey bars. There were also plenty of kids. Yet no kids ever played on the monkey bars. "Why?" you ask. Because they were constantly being utilized. Not more than 15 minutes passed before a college student would walk by, drop his backpack on the ground and begin **trying** to do pull ups. In the 3 hours that Sadie and I were in the park I saw fat guys, skinny guys, skater guys, nerdy guys...all doing pull ups on the monkey bars at the park. Some were a lot more successful than others. But really? Doing pull ups? at the public park? Hilarious.

There is also the humiliating possibility of being rejected. And vice versa, the dreaded situation of being approached by a member of the opposite sex that you might find far less than desirable. Case in point:
Male. Mid-thirties. Full beard. Glasses. Dress: stylish, for the 70's.
Female. Quite a bit younger. Attractive. Reading a book by herself. Obviously wants to be left alone.
Male approaches female.
Female continues reading book and answers questions as minimally as possible.
(At this juncture most people with adequate social skills would get the point and move on)
Unfortunately, for both involved, the male decides his pick up lines just aren't working so he tries to impress the female by removing his shirt.
Male: Blindingly white skin. Hairy. Lacking in any muscle definition. umm...droopy.

Uhh, awkward!!!! I am just glad that that was not me he was trying to talk to. Yet, my heart goes out to him. It never feels good to put yourself out there and get denied. I am just glad I am done searching for someone to hang out with.

On the other hand... If you are lucky enough to find someone who fancies you as much as you fancy them, there is something to be said about those early days of blossoming love.

A couple walked through the park holding hands and drinking sodas. They stopped to swing on the swings, one facing east and the other facing west so that they could carry on their heart to heart discussion and, I assume, to look lovingly into each other's eyes. Ah, how romantic. I am glad to be where I am but that giddy stage of love is pretty fun too.

Speaking of young love, Sadie made a friend that was a boy at the park. She was so impressed at what a good walker he was and his full head of dark curls just made her heart melt. He played hard to get at first, securely defending his toys and his spot in the wood chips from Sadie's advances. Yet, her irresistible smile and willingness to share her treats won him over and eventually little 15 month Galileo decided to share his toys, saliva and all, with Sadie.

Ah, young love.