Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Showing your true colors

At the start of a new relationship, most of us are on our best behavior. It's at this point we remember everything our mommas told us. Stand up straight. Say please and thank you. Smile. Be polite. Tie your hair back. Wear a belt. Cross your legs.

We're dressing and acting to impress, worried that one slight mishap could cost us the man — or woman — of our dreams. In reality, if we lose a person because of one of these little nuances we're probably better of anyway. But we're in new relationships and not thinking logically. We're convinced we can make our date like us, if only we dress and act right.

So women try on 10 different outfits before leaving the house and men open doors for their dates. We don't say what we really think about that witch bringing us our drinks for fear of offending the other person. It's a polite and pretty world we live in.

Then the honeymoon period ends. Women stop shaving their legs for extended periods of time and men stop wearing cologne. We come home to our significant others and without even a "How was your day?" launch into the latest irritation at work. It may sound bad, but really it means that a couple is comfortable around each other and love each other despite their faults.

What do you think about the pleasantries that surround dating and the early stages of a relationship? Do you consider them a waste of time or a chance to build trust with someone new? How long does it take for you to become comfortable with someone and just let it all hang out?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Relationships in the early weeks and months are just like new cars, they have that great new car smell, they're clean and shiny and wonderful. Of course after awhile, you drop fries in the cracks and crevices or spill your coffee. But just like you're car, you've got to wash and maintain it and change the oil. So yeah after being in a relationship for a year and a half, sometimes I do go a little longer without shaving my legs (in the winter) and I no longer wait to take a dump at my apartment, but when we go out, I make sure I'm looking fab, or we surprise each other by doing something nice. Yeah, somenights he'll see the cotton granny panties but some nights he'll certainly get the lace thong. It's great to get comfortable with a person, you want that, because none of that stuff in the beginning is really real. It's what Chris Rock calls "your representative". I want someone to see all phases of me. Let's get comfortable, but not complacent.

Anonymous said...

GRANNY PANTIES?? Yuck!!!!!