So we set a date for a meetup later on this month.
I could have made it next weekend, which was my original plan but…
a) He seems to be very proper and by the book and The Book says he comes to see me first and I’m just shrugging it off and saying “okay”. So this is going down one week later than I would have preferred (mainly because I hate getting e-mailly attached to someone who might not like me) because the tickets are cheaper. Other proper things-he’s just coming for the day. I know this is because he is way too shy to be like “can I just crash on your couch in close physical proximity to your naked body that I would like to be cuddled up against” (well, in my imagination this is what he is too shy to say).
Wah. This means two more weeks of flirting and running home to read my emails and giggly chats and all that means is that if he hates me and thinks I’m an ugly bear that I’m going to be way more disappointed than if he visited this weekend or the weekend after. DETACHED, AM DETACHING…AM NOT GETTING EMOTIONALLY INVESTED.
b) I think it’s crass, when someone who doesn’t make nearly as much money as you, essentially says “let me make the effort and pay out” to then be like “well, hey, you’re making this big gesture but let me make you feel really small by being like ‘if the tickets are too expensive I’ll just come see you’”. Maybe it’s really pre-Friedan of me but I feel like when a man makes a gesture like that his ego is tied up in it a bit and I didn’t want to crush him by reinforcing the fact that I make money and he doesn’t. I mean, we both know that and we both know that once his education is over he’ll make as much as, if not more than me, so why shove that in his face right now? I hate when people shove their money in my face so I don’t like to do it to people I am romantically interested in when we’re aware of the economic disparity.
See that? See how nice I am? I want to get to the “do we like each other in real time” stage NOW but I’m willing to hold off because I want to make him feel good. And call me a non-feminist if you must but I can sense, smell and feel that this boy is sensitive and would feel like crap if I responded to his sweet gesture by saying “I’ll pay, let’s just get it over with.” And as a sensitive person myself…I feel protective towards others I feel are somewhat like me.
c) If he comes to see me he knows and I know that he will end up pacifying my parents, who live in this country and I’m sure he knows I have been keeping them abreast of developments.
So that’s where we are. Personally I feel like a dungheap because I had a turkey hot dog for lunch and now feel physically ill. I’m going to have some tea and then go lie down.
M.
PS: 4 emailed me before he left for the ’ship. I emailed back and he didn’t respond even though I could see he was online. My impression? He really likes me but his mom and dad want him to see girls on the ’ship, proper Marathi girls, not mixed Konkrathis like yours truly. Ass. Also have the cult leader (supposedly we’re meeting in early Feb) and another doctorate in Dirty Water. Stay tuned.
January 3, 2008 at 2:27 am
Bah, I don’t think not being a man-hating bitch towards the male species exempts you from being a feminist by any means. I personally find feminism about mutual respect.
Happy New Year
January 3, 2008 at 2:52 am
There’s nothing anti-feminist about accepting a gracious gesture from another person, regardless of economics or gender. And traditional in protocol can even be charming when balanced by progressive thought and action where it counts.
January 3, 2008 at 3:06 am
I just didn’t want to incite comments like “if he can’t deal with the fact that you make money now, what’s going to happen if you get married??” etc. because I truly don’t believe that’s the issue at all. He’s very very well-educated and I don’t care about the money (or lack thereof until he finishes school because I respect his drive for education) but I just feel like if I wanted to indicate to a person a) Hey, I really like you and in spite of the fact that I don’t make much, I will take the time to make an economic investment b) This gesture is undertaken specifically because he knows my parents expect it as a statement of serious interest, that it would c) Be mean as hell to throw it in his face and be like “screw waiting for cheaper tix, I’ll just come see you.”
Other than his minimum adherence to a few expected courtship rituals I would not describe him as traditional. I am trying to follow along with these myself and it’s mainly just for parental pacification. He is, however, shy and a bit socially awkward but that I can work with.
January 3, 2008 at 4:45 pm
3 is growing on me. He seems thoughtful as well as dang HAWT.
January 3, 2008 at 5:00 pm
yeah he is pretty sexy isn’t he?
January 5, 2008 at 4:00 pm
ahhh thank you so much! that really was awesome of you!!! i’m definitely NOT a fast absorber…so i’m thinking that i should probably just take it.
I can’t believe you sat for 3 bars in a row and didn’t study for IL! insanity…i’m also so very jealous of you that you have all the bar madness behind you!! anyway, thank you again