When I saw him for the first time in the airport he was easy to pick out because he looked exactly like his picture. This would relieve some people but I never had any doubt that the tall, husky yet handsome man in the photo that resided on my hard drive would resemble the man that stepped off the plane to greet me. My doubts didn't start until we had gotten back to my place and I had an opportunity to observe my future boyfriend’s mannerisms and pick apart his dress. It was then that I began to question our ability to have a relationship.
My biggest male fashion pet peeve is white socks, especially when worn with dark colored pants. To me, it just screams nerd. And not the Yes-I-like-computers-and-play-fantasy-sports-but-otherwise-I’m-really-cool kind of nerd but the I-play-computer-role-playing-games-and-attend-Star-Trek-conventions kind of nerd. It's a brand of geek that emanates from the core of one’s soul and can’t be disguised by wearing contacts and throwing away your pocket protector. Regardless of how hard you try to hide it, eventually this form of geekdom will always come out. White socks are a woman’s only early warning signs alerting her to a life of sex while wearing a Klingon costume. I wasn't sure I was prepared for that.
The more serious threat to my relationship with The Boyfriend was the effect his mannerisms had on me. It’s not that his tendencies are offensive or repulsive. They are not. The problem was my overactive imagination.
After spending months talking on the phone to someone you’ve never met, you start to develop an idea in your head of how that person’s face must look when they say certain things and what hand motions they use to accentuate their words. More importantly, you start to fall in love with those make-believe characteristics. When you are finally face-to-face with that person, you discover that the daydreams that had become your reality were anything but real. In a long-distance relationship, that can take months to get over. It wasn't until the third visit, when I had enough tangible knowledge of The Boyfriend’s actual mannerisms, that I was able to replace the images that were created in my head with something more real.
Incidentally, this is about the time that I became more physically comfortable around The Boyfriend.
(To be continued)
10 comments:
Ah, yes. The falling in love with your imaginary, homemade ideas of someone. I've been there often. It's either a pleasant surprise or ferociously insurmountable. Nicely articulated, GB.
Yeah, especially with someone you've only spoken to in a different city. It's almost never the same face to face, but at least you grew to like this guy, or else you wouldn't call him The Boyfriend.
Are we allowed to wear white socks with jeans & sneakers? If the jeans are particularly dark blue, are we required then to wear dark socks?
CP, I'm inclined to give a pass on white socks and jeans (although I tend to wear navy blue socks with jeans unless I'm wearing a white top). But white socks with dark dress pants are a definite no no!!
When I owned my flower shop I always talked to my wholesaler (whom I had never met). He had the most perfect Australian accent. In my mind he was tall, gorgeous, blonde, big- you know, tanned surfer dude type. Then one day this short, curly haired, heavy, very pale guy walks into my shop. Yup, my image was shattered.
The funniest part about all this is that, even after that, whenever I spoke to him on the phone he was tall, gorgeous, blonde, big and tan. I do so love living in my own mind at times.
So has he ditched the white socks with dress pants?
It's funy with bloggers too.we all have an idea what each other looks like but unless they post real pics, we're probably way off.
My mom was a private secretary to a President of a company and had a real sexy voice on the phone. She got asked out all the time by younger men who were cheating on their gorgeous wives on their yachts..then they'd come by and see she was in her 50's!
The only place for white socks is in the gym. :P
I got to go get me some socks...thanks!!!
I wish you all the best! The white sock thing basically comes down to men being lazy... they really don't see it as anything wrong... it takes a woman to bring them over from the dark side! lol!
All the best always,
m
My husband HAS to wear white cotton socks. He contracted a jungle fungus in Viet Nam. I have been able to find colored cotton socks, though, for special occasions.
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