The Xs and Os of Relationships

These two simple letters mean so much more than other letters in the alphabet. They can sometimes be seen on a whiteboard to explain a crucial play in a sporting event. Other times, they can be found together at the bottom of a birthday card to communicate love in the form of hugs and kisses. In an earlier post, these two letters reminded me of the tic-tac-toe game played in a person's dating life. I wondered why someone has to be an "x." Did that mean that they were an "o" during the relationship? The answer is yes. They were an "o" at one time. They were this all encompassing "o" who surrounded the person with love and happiness. In thinking about this further, I couldn't help but come to a simple conclusion, though. Once that happiness and love is gone, if an ex continues to be an "o," the two people will continue to be in this never ending circle or loop that contains the same baggage from the relationship. Ultimately, nothing good will come from it. What was once the love of the relationship is now replaced with the aftermath of the problems of the relationship. So, while the person you were dating may have been an "o" they cannot remain this after the relationship is over. Otherwise, the couple is bound to continue to circle around the same issues of the past. Therefore, the person must become an e"x" in your life.

"Besties"

In a recent conversation, a friend of mine used the word "best" friend when referring to one of her friends. When I repeated the word in the conversation, just to see how it sounded, it sounded incredibly foreign coming out of my mouth. As I've aged, the "best" friend image has escaped me. I consider just about everyone I choose to spend time with as, well, friends. I don't really regard one as a best friend, but maybe that's just me. To me, the best friend image was only around when I was younger. Then, the best friend was someone I spent just about all my time with, which I don't do now that I'm older and have more going on in my life. I randomly, from time to time, see several people. This, then reminded me of relationships. One person cannot be our sole everything-- other people must fill in the gaps. The person we are dating cannot possibly fulfill our everything. They come close, but are designed to fall a little short because they are different than we are.

Spelling!?

auf wiedersehen-- I can not believe this is how the German word for goodbye is spelled.

A quiet exit

Why is it so important to say goodbye when you leave? When did this gesture become mandatory for the human race? After doing a little research, I discovered that this tradition naturally has religious roots.  It is a contraction for "God be with ye." My stream of conscious led me to this thought-- do atheist not say goodbye to people or do they even know what they are saying when they are parting ways with someone?

Regardless, I was recently chastised for my lack of a goodbye. I am not an atheist so that is not my reason. To me, my form of a goodbye is when I am no longer in the area. When someone's presence is no longer there, isn't that enough of a goodbye? Apparently not and people get offended by it. For me, when I am ready to leave, I just leave. I do not like to sit around and just suck it up for the sake of other people. I don't see the problem with this concept of departure.

Family Time

How important is family? When someone says, "I would do anything for my family." I often wonder exactly how far are they willing to go? Would they kill for their family? Would they die for their family? Give up a job/their livelihood for their family? I have recently been put to the test of what my family means to me and what I would be willing to do to spend time with them. For me, I am willing to give up my job for just a few, simple, but important days to spend with them. One of the most important things for me is that I spend my time with the people I love and that love me. In a way, we honor and show our love for one another by spending time with them-- just our mere closeness to them is a gift that is irreplaceable. In the end, isn't that the only thing we ever really had-- time on this earth?    

and the light bulb burned out...or never illuminated the cranium house at all.

The quote-- "I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison. The response: "what he is saying is that he hasn't failed he just found reasons not to do anything...i kinda wonder what this guy was thinking about or what he was doing that made him think he hasn't failed."

I cannot control my laughter.

Encounter of a Chloe Kind

I have never really been approached romantically by a complete stranger until the other day. Throwing the ball for my rambunctious, young lab has become a ritual of mine since having moved into an apartment. Randomly, a girl ran by one day and my dog ran along side her. I was annoyed by this. She jogged by not once, but twice, adding to the annoyance. Nothing was said, but sorry, and I went about my day. Three weeks later, I'm at the same location throwing the ball, yet again, and now a car is coming down the dead end area. It's the jogger from before. She positions her car too far forward and is now awkwardly leaning forward to talk to me. I thought it was someone needing directions and was annoyed, but then she says, "I've been wanting to meet you." I was taken back by this comment--how bold is that?! I didn't say much to this since it was 7:45 in the morning and I was dressed by a hobo (actually that's a slap to hobos-- I was dressed worse). She then went on to say her name...I told her mine and then she said she had to go to work. The next Saturday a similar experience. I have started to vary the times I now go to throw the ball. I don't like the idea of someone being able to creep on me. Due to the randomness of this exchange, I had to write about it.