Shortly after P-Dawg and I first started dating, I explained to him that I preferred not to hold hands. It was fine if we were in a movie theater or something, just not while walking, okay?
My future husband was taken aback. Why wouldn’t I want to participate in this internationally recognized outward sign of mutual affection?
“I just don’t like it. Never did. You’re a lot taller than me and it makes me feel like a pet.”
“A pet?”
“Yeah. Sorry. I hope you don’t mind.”
He let it (and my hand) drop. And throughout the rest of our seven year on again/off again courtship, I tripped along beside him happy as a clam, taking two steps for every one of his long strides. I was a liberated woman, and a little bit nuts.
Last weekend the P-Dawg and I – who will be married ten years in September – went out on a date. It was a gorgeous summer evening so after a fabulous dinner, we spent some time driving around our old ‘hood.
“Awww . . . our old apartment building!” I exclaimed. “Those were the days, man.”
Every landmark we passed sparked a memory. “There’s the church where I accidentally voted for Ralph Nader,” I noted. “Hey, do you wanna go for a walk around Small Midwestern Jesuit University?”
P-Dawg agreed.
We parked on a side street by our alma mater and strolled around the grounds. There were a few new buildings and a parking lot where the old soccer field used to be, but other than that, things looked pretty much the same. Being on the old stomping grounds brought back an instant rush of memories for us both.
Rima: “Remember when you kissed me in those bushes?”
P-Dawg: “No, it was farther up, over by the nut buster.”
Me: “The what?”
P-Dawg: “We used to call that post the nut buster because it was hard to clear when jumping.”
Me: “Lucky for me it didn’t bust your nuts. There’s your old dorm room. Remember how you always used to climb in through the window? Aw, and look – the bench where you first saw me! Tell me again about how you knew right then that I would become your wife.”
P-Dawg: “I knew right then that you would become my wife.”
We continued to make our way around the quadrangle.
P-Dawg: “You know what I liked about college? Every day was different. Now I wake up every morning and go to work, knowing I can expect pretty much the same thing. It’s kind of sad.”
Me: “Yeah, I know what you mean. Except for me it’s not. This is the spot where I had a smoke with Dr Mc Caskill!* I was so nervous, I tried to light the wrong end. He was this crazy cool English professor from South Africa who accidentally set his office on fire once. We were discussing my paper on Derrida.”
P-Dawg: “I used to do wheelies here in my Grounds Crew buggy.”
We carried on our parallel conversations for awhile longer, like the old married pros we are. Then we walked in amiable silence for a bit, something that almost a decade of marriage has allowed us to comfortably do.
We were holding hands.
* It was just a phase. Geez.
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What a pretty wedding picture!
magpie´s last [type] ..How To Make A Cat Love You
Aawww. sweet. your dress is a bit like mine was, lovely.
Life in Eden´s last [type] ..Summer’s First Popsicle
What a lovely story! (My husband isn’t a public handholder either). Happy Anniversary early! Ten years is a big deal. I predict five decades more they way you two sound. Wonderful!
Kathy´s last [type] ..Making a Blanket Statement
Awww. That made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I do love the way you write, Rima.
Also, happy anniversary.
alejna´s last [type] ..don’t it make my blue eyes red
I’m glad it was just a phase
Kelly´s last [type] ..Wardrobe Wednesday
Aaawh. I love how things change/stay the same over the course of a marriage/lifetime together. We celebrated 5 in Oct and life is nothing like I pictured it would be all those years ago – it’s so much better.
awww….
love moments llike that
Painted Maypole´s last [type] ..adrift
btw way… later today you can see my st joseph…
Painted Maypole´s last [type] ..adrift
Love this. And love the title! You guys were W-I-L-D!
I love walking through old neighborhoods. For me it’s bit weird b/c I lived in them with my ex but still there are some great memories.
jessica´s last [type] ..Just a Little Ball Talk
Awww. What a sweet and beautiful post.
And what a fitting picture to go with it.
I once dated (it was a pretty serious relationship, actually) this guy that was very shy to show any kind of affection in public so he would never hold my hand. I understood it, but it still made me sad.
When I first began to date Todd we went out on a date and he grabbed my hand and I was in heaven. I can’t tell you how happy it made me.
Kat´s last [type] ..On The Down Low
Oh dear. I have been a closet non-hand-holder for a long time. I’m also short, and the hop-hop-hop thing gets old
Kate in Michigan at she-says.org´s last [type] ..Does Anybody Mind
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Seriously. That’s how I feel about this post.
This was exquisite and funny. Best line: “There’s the church where I accidentally voted for Ralph Nader.” Loved this.
HA! That was good reading. Dang I never realized that you guys are going on 10! cool