Ash 99

The thing that no one will ever tell you about love is that it’s so incredibly awkward. It’s like every day is your high school prom, or a big job interview, or a first date. (It’s A LOT like a first date.) If you make a date with your significant other, it really doesn’t matter what you’ll be doing, or how much time you expect to spend with them: you will be taking an obsessive sort of shower. You’re going to be making sure you don’t leave any patch of skin untouched. You’re going to be using your special “date” soap that has the particular scent they always compliment. You’ll be sure to use conditioner just in case they decide to play with your hair. Chances are you’re going to shave. You’ll be using the “good” toothpaste. You’ll floss and be sure to use your mouthwash for the full 30 seconds (or 60, depending on your level of commitment.) Of course you’ll have to break out the special perfume or cologne that they just love. (It’s a mad dash to the store when you realize you’re out of it.) What’s that? You’re going to go see a movie and have a cheeseburger? Better wear your designer jeans and your nicest pair of shoes. It’s completely normal to want to look and feel your best around your partner. You can’t slip up on a date! Which makes it all the funnier (and more frustrating) when disaster strikes. You dropped the popcorn trying to sit down. Maybe you get some sort of sauce on your clothes. You knocked over your beverage in that nice restaurant. (And it’s always a full glass.) The coup de grâce has got to be when your credit card gets declined. The thing that most people tend to forget is that for all the silly things that you do to prepare or every embarrassing thing you do in front of your significant other, they’ve done the exact same thing. It’s a beautiful, funny sort of thing that we always try to put our best foot forward for them (which does go a way to show we care enough about them to go through all that) but in the end we love not for our perfections but for our flaws. For being able to laugh when you spill a drink. For the funny way they snort when they laugh. For watching those barriers fall down. We are our true selves when this happens. I am glad that I am able to be my totally obnoxious, awkward self around you. I’m thankful for that. It’s a blessing that when I’m with you I can completely drop my guard and just let things be. I’m happiest when I’m with you. I consider it a good sign when you can wear sweats and an old t-shirt, and I find you just as cute as you are in your best outfit. I’d take a quiet night at home with you over a night out any day. Besides, if we stay in on a date, there’s less chance I have of spilling coke all over the table.