(no subject)
1. How did you know that C was "The One"?
It took me about two weeks to get there. The first night I met her, I knew I wanted to go out with her. After our first date, I knew I wanted to pursue a relationship with her. After our second date, I decided I wanted to marry her. I think it was about 3 months in that we started discussing marriage seriously. She met my El Paso friends at Juanita's wedding in August and met my family two weeks later. Nobody had anything but good feedback so I formally proposed a few weeks later.
But the question of how did I know? On our first date, she didn't mince words - C told me that if I wasn't at least open to the possibility of marriage, then let's stop right here. Basically she didn't want to date anybody that she wouldn't consider marrying, and didn't want to date anybody who wouldn't consider marrying her. Not that she was out to get married right then, but she didn't want to waste the time and emotional investment on a relationship that wasn't going anywhere. That clear thinking, and the willingness to articulate it, really impressed me.
We took things slow and didn't get intimate right away. At the time and age we were dating, the standard was pretty much that you slept together on the third date. If the woman doesn't put out on the third date, she's either not into you or is just playing you. If the guy doesn't try to sleep with the woman on the third date, he's either too "slow", or "too nice", or not aggressive enough, or has too much emotional baggage, or whatever. I try to do things my own way, and she did too - not really taking current courtship practices into account. That really impressed me too - she wanted to make up her own mind about how to do things.
She didn't want to get married until she was out of college. I wasn't going to marry anybody without a college degree. That was a nice fit, especially after Annie. C had a plan and objectives, and was willing to work to meet them. That impressed me.
She didn't have kids already. That was a huge plus for me, as I didn't want to raise another man's kids. When I was dating it seemed like all the women my age had kids - either from a previous marriage or out of wedlock. It told me that she was careful and thought things out.
2. When you like music, is it more for the sound of it, the lyrics/content, or both?
Like Jesse Helms, I know it when I see it. Seriously, I think it's both. Generally I like rock and metal - but there are some songs in that genre I can't stand. Similarly, as a rule I don't like rap or country, but there are individual rap and country songs that I do like. So I'd have to say it's both.
3. What would you want to get out of a 20th high school reunion?
I think just to catch up with old friends and see what everyone has been doing. It's hard to accept that some of the guys have kids that are in high school, while mine is barely out of diapers. I hope it won't be awkward since I've been out of touch with the vast majority for so long. I also hope we don't stand around telling the same jokes and the same stories and reliving the glory days.
4. What one thing would you want your son(s) to learn from you and remember you by?
There are a lot of things I want my boys to learn from me and hopefully remember me for. If I had to pick one, I'd say it is the capability for direct, decisive action - exactly the same thing I got from my dad. If a situation comes up, I want my boys to know that dad knows what to do and then does it. So many men these days are hesitant and passive - almost emasculated. Men are supposed to know what to do and then do it. I want my boys to be able to analyze and respond to any situation life throws at them. Jim always said that you should always be doing something - even if it's the wrong thing, at least you're doing something, and maybe you can turn it into the right thing.
5. Well, Ship-Captain, what do you want?
My woman at my side, children playing at my feet, and overhead...fluttering in the breeze...the flag of Texas!
It took me about two weeks to get there. The first night I met her, I knew I wanted to go out with her. After our first date, I knew I wanted to pursue a relationship with her. After our second date, I decided I wanted to marry her. I think it was about 3 months in that we started discussing marriage seriously. She met my El Paso friends at Juanita's wedding in August and met my family two weeks later. Nobody had anything but good feedback so I formally proposed a few weeks later.
But the question of how did I know? On our first date, she didn't mince words - C told me that if I wasn't at least open to the possibility of marriage, then let's stop right here. Basically she didn't want to date anybody that she wouldn't consider marrying, and didn't want to date anybody who wouldn't consider marrying her. Not that she was out to get married right then, but she didn't want to waste the time and emotional investment on a relationship that wasn't going anywhere. That clear thinking, and the willingness to articulate it, really impressed me.
We took things slow and didn't get intimate right away. At the time and age we were dating, the standard was pretty much that you slept together on the third date. If the woman doesn't put out on the third date, she's either not into you or is just playing you. If the guy doesn't try to sleep with the woman on the third date, he's either too "slow", or "too nice", or not aggressive enough, or has too much emotional baggage, or whatever. I try to do things my own way, and she did too - not really taking current courtship practices into account. That really impressed me too - she wanted to make up her own mind about how to do things.
She didn't want to get married until she was out of college. I wasn't going to marry anybody without a college degree. That was a nice fit, especially after Annie. C had a plan and objectives, and was willing to work to meet them. That impressed me.
She didn't have kids already. That was a huge plus for me, as I didn't want to raise another man's kids. When I was dating it seemed like all the women my age had kids - either from a previous marriage or out of wedlock. It told me that she was careful and thought things out.
2. When you like music, is it more for the sound of it, the lyrics/content, or both?
Like Jesse Helms, I know it when I see it. Seriously, I think it's both. Generally I like rock and metal - but there are some songs in that genre I can't stand. Similarly, as a rule I don't like rap or country, but there are individual rap and country songs that I do like. So I'd have to say it's both.
3. What would you want to get out of a 20th high school reunion?
I think just to catch up with old friends and see what everyone has been doing. It's hard to accept that some of the guys have kids that are in high school, while mine is barely out of diapers. I hope it won't be awkward since I've been out of touch with the vast majority for so long. I also hope we don't stand around telling the same jokes and the same stories and reliving the glory days.
4. What one thing would you want your son(s) to learn from you and remember you by?
There are a lot of things I want my boys to learn from me and hopefully remember me for. If I had to pick one, I'd say it is the capability for direct, decisive action - exactly the same thing I got from my dad. If a situation comes up, I want my boys to know that dad knows what to do and then does it. So many men these days are hesitant and passive - almost emasculated. Men are supposed to know what to do and then do it. I want my boys to be able to analyze and respond to any situation life throws at them. Jim always said that you should always be doing something - even if it's the wrong thing, at least you're doing something, and maybe you can turn it into the right thing.
5. Well, Ship-Captain, what do you want?
My woman at my side, children playing at my feet, and overhead...fluttering in the breeze...the flag of Texas!