RELATIONSHIP PRACTICE? YOU NEVER KNOW

Relationship practice includes the ongoing question: What is real vs What isn’t.

It’s a struggle for some, but not here.

Why? Because I understand the rules at the most basic level.

No family pics allowed, which is a shame because we range somewhere between good looking and beautiful.

So I take the harder route of original content instead of the easy route of showing off.

The kids say, “Keep us out of it.”

Wife says, “Keep me out of it.”

And I agree with no challenge. No family pics? Fine.

That’s how families work, they agree to overcome hardships together.

It takes practice, but that gets tiring for many trying to make it work.

Practice means paying attention, making compromises, and moving forward.

Yes, we’re talking about practice, relationship practice.

If you’ve had one, none, or too many to body count, call it practice.

What do past relationships say?

 

What To Expect From Relationship Practice

If you start out with the idea of a practice run, keep it to yourself.

The other person doesn’t want to think they’re a practice run.

For me, the main rule for practice was avoid meeting parents.

Once parents get involved things take a turn.

Then you’re either the future, or you’re the demon seed.

One practice run started out with meeting the parents, at least the mom.

An older woman and a younger woman stopped in the look around where I worked.

As a noble gentleman, I gave them a tour.

My tour was an inspiration.

Later in the week the young woman came back. (Magnetic draw, right?)

We made plans to get together for the weekend, where things took a nice turn.

Since I’d accidentally met the mom, she wanted me to meet her dad. They were divorced.

After rolling out too many excuses, it happened.

She introduced me as her ‘summer fling’ before returning to college for graduate school.

The dad approved. What the hell?

Apparently she’d introduced other seasonal guys to her group.

The Christmas Fling, Springbreak Fling, Dorm Fling.

She was a flinger and that sat just right.

We talked about how people know they were meant for each other.

Me: I know it’s true love when the girl plans on leaving town and wants one more fling to go.

Fling: That’s true love, huh. How’s that work?

Me: That’s when you can talk about timing, how things would be different if they stayed, how you’ll never find anyone like them.

Fling: You said that?

Me: I leaned that way.

Fling: What if they heard you and decided to stay?

Me: It hasn’t happened, but I’d probably have to move.

Fling: I’m going back to school in a few months.

Me: Perfect. Get that education. In the meantime we can get together unless you’re busy.

Fling: Aren’t you busy?

Me: I could get busy.

 

Relationship Practice Makes For A Better Marriage

Before you wonder if I was the bullet others dodged, I did my best.

I was never the right one, just the one right now.

The right one was out there, just not too close. Not yet.

I stayed close to ‘bad date’ territory.

If my practice relationship wanted to get together, they came to my neighborhood.

If they wanted to go out and do something, we’d take a walk around the block.

They wanted to stop someplace to eat? We’d go to the same place every time.

They got bored with the routine? That’s what they were supposed to do.

Bore the heck out of someone and watch what they do:

They either stop coming around, or they get inventive.

Since I had a low paying, high prestige job, and no car, it took some extra inventiveness to move the needle.

My mom was worried about the car part when she said, “What kind of a women to you expect to attract with no car and just a bike?”

Me: Biker women, Mom.

I thought it was funny, ma not so much.

I told this story to a current flame and she thought it was funny. She also went right out and bought a bike.

During one of our first walks around the block the same woman suggested we stopped for something to eat and pointed out the same place I always chose.

That put me a little off balance.

She wasn’t hot for me to meet her parents or friends, which was a welcome relief.

My game plan was her game plan? That’s my kind of girl.

A year passed. We got to know each other. One of her friends said we’d never make it as a couple.

I considered the source since we weren’t ‘a couple.’

But we were something, so I asked her to marry me. She said yes, and we broke up.

That’s when she revealed her plan. If we weren’t getting married she would move to another part of the country, our leave the country, and start over without me.

So we un-broke up and got married.

Almost four decades later with a spotless marriage record, on my part, we continue our slow burn.

Would that have happened without the relationship practice ahead of time for either of us?

I don’t think so.

To all the young men out there wondering where things all lead, they lead to the shitter unless you man the hell up and get in the game.

Practice is over, son. Put your game face on and get with it.