Anniversaries

Sometimes I get ridiculous about small things. I don’t know if it’s the girl in me, or what. I don’t know if it’s necessarily “girl” behavior, or just me. Here’s the newest haps with TB. The other day a friend asked how long TB and I have been together and when our anniversary is. I just stared back blankly. All of my friends apparently have anniversaries and the date is important. The Girl Scout and her boyfriend, Tiny Dancer (she gave him that name, not me) have been dating for a few months now, and they put their anniversary as the day they met. It was instant with them, and they’ve been practically inseparable ever since they met, which was at a bar. And he was in sweats. She was definitely blinded by love. It’s cute, cause the other day we were all at a party and Tiny Dancer made a comment about how he doesn’t even know how to handle it if they are separated for a night. I thought that was super sweet. I’ve never met this guy before, a few of us hadn’t, and he wasn’t afraid to show us all how much he cares for her. That’s a rare quality in a guy. So, their anniversary is the day they met. The Newlyweds celebrate every small anniversary. “This is the 4 year and 3 day anniversary of the first time we ate hamburgers together.” Ok, maybe not that small, but close. Anniversaries are very important to both of them, which is nice. I think it’s nice when it means as much to the guy as it does to the girl. The It Couple celebrates their year anniversary. He made it official with her on Valentine’s Day, because he knew he’d remember that. It’s cute that he knew he had a problem with dates and wanted to be sure to remember. Each year when it comes up, she thinks he’s going to forget or not make a big deal, and every year he does something nice in the way of taking her to a nice meal and buying her flowers and getting her a present. Those are all things she wants him to do, and he’s pretty good about knowing that’s what he’s supposed to do. And he comes through. I don’t know if it’s as natural on the part of It Boy as it is with Mr. Newlywed of Tiny Dancer, or if it’s more out of obligation. But, does the means really matter? I think all that is important is the ends: he comes through for her, and she feels so happy and special because he did come through. That’s what is the most important thing. So, I brought it up to TB, that we don’t have an anniversary. His answer was that I should choose a date, and that would be ok with him. How does one arbitrarily choose an anniversary date? Most times it’d be the first date or the first kiss, or some other big first. Perhaps the day the guy first took his head out of his ass and realized he didn’t want to lose the girl. Something big like that. But, our firsts are all weird. The first time I met him and held his hand was 3 months after we started talking, and well after we decided that we wouldn’t date anyone else. But, when did we come to that conclusion? I dunno. Some random date before we met in life. But, I feel like making the first time we met negates all of the relationship we established prior to that. Then again, I don’t even remember the first time he contacted me, which began this whole sordid affair. I remember our first Skype date, but that was Valentine’s day, and my best friend already has dibs on that day. It’d be too weird to have it on the same day. Then I realized that my favorite memory of talking to him was on Superbowl. It was the first time we talked a lot. He was at a party and I was at a party, but we spent the whole time talking to each other. And I invited him to Law Prom and he actually considered coming and tried to get the time off from work, though he couldn’t. It is the time I think about fondly as the real beginning of my feelings for him. I was excited about him at that time, though I was hesitant about him being so far away. But, I think I could consider that our first date of sorts, which works as an anniversary date. And, I think the fact that I’m using the Superbowl as the day to establish an anniversary makes it slightly less girly and cheesy. Right? I told him that date, and he said it sounded like the perfect date. He probably would have said that no matter what I said. “March 23, cause that was the day we figured out we both liked 1969 Ford Bronco’s, so I knew you were my soulmate.” “That sounds perfect, baby!” I know that would be his response. But, at least he’s happy. And he doesn’t think I’m lame for wanting an anniversary. I guess he knows that it’s important to me. I don’t think it’s as important to him. I think he subscribes to the It Boy school of thought: just do it to make the girl happy. Either way, here’s to February 7.