2006-04-18
Popcorn� yummmmmmm
Wow� what a weekend. It�s funny how at times, when you don�t get what you want, it somehow turns into a positive.
This weekend, I was to meet little one for the first time. We had planned this before in Reno, but mother nature conspired against us that weekend and it was not to be. Unbeknownst to me� her family made huge and plentiful offerings to the Weather Gods to make that happen. This week� they simply raised such a fuss that no weather gods were required (although it has been raining here for well over a month� and as far as I�m concerned, they need to step up and take some responsibility for that :p )
Yup� family. It�s true what they say� you don�t have a relationship with just the party that is the subject of your desire� you have that relationship with all their friends and family too. And really� that�s the way it should be. It�s what makes relationships strong.
Little one has kinders of her own� and they have been through some tough times. First, their father died a few years ago. Then, little one met what she thought was a true love� only to find that he was so much like the typical players that infest the online world (my description, not hers� while she doesn�t want anything to do with him, she�s classy enough to not speak quite so bluntly regarding him� as you can see, I take that role without hesitation). He proposed in front of her kids, had plans to move them to Timbuktu, etc.
Enter �me�� and even though it should have not been a surprise (but was� and for that I feel awful� I should have thought this through), concerns were raised. Losing a father was bad enough... but when the player waltzed into their lives and stole not only little one�s heart, but the hearts of her kids (and to a large extent, the rest of her family)� well, when he showed his true colors, it was not a pretty picture. And of course� it can�t, and won�t be allowed to happen again. Families are kinda that way� eh?
Our planned meeting resulted in some turmoil, to be sure. Family, being family (and we are not just talking about kids here�), let little one know their concern without much thought as to subtleties� or logic, for that matter. They basically forced her to chose between seeing me and them (although I�m sure they wouldn�t have quite carried that threat through� why they chose the DAY I arrived to have this discussion with her is beyond me, but what�s done is done). That was so unfair for little one to be placed into that position. But, where the heart is involved, logic and reason often get tossed out the door along with the bath water, and the result is passion if not well thought out concerns and reactions. We chose to react a bit more level headed (well, OK� to be honest, it took us awhile to get over the shock and GET to the point where we were level headed.. but we got there!).
In order to make sure this fledgling relationship stands a snowball�s chance in hell of working (and I�m so proud of little one for making family a priority), we decided that we will allow our actions to speak for themselves for a bit. We�ll continue to speak to each other on a daily basis and in copious quantities :), and let everyone see for themselves that I�m not a �flash in the pan�, nor someone that who�s eventual goal is to borrow money (yup� he was a player, I tell ya). Her family is also questioning little one�s sense of judgment, given that the player was met online� they are concerned, and it�s hard to refute that (OK, given it was my daughter in the same situation� I�d have concerns as well). So� we�ll allow everyone some time to get a bit more used to the idea that I�m part of little one�s daily life (as it were), and rather than announce to all that we are in a relationship (with all that implies)� we have announced that we will be �dating�. Her kids do it, everyone does it. It�s harmless� and we hope a way to allow everyone to see for themselves that their concerns are misplaced, albeit sincere.
Smiles� dinner and a movie are planned for next weekend. I�m hungry already� and insisting on anything but a chick flick :)
t85225 at 2:28 a.m.
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