Yesterday I mentioned that my friend AJ was in town during Christmas. She came over Christmas Eve morning and we caught up on life while I was immersed in completing my baking agenda.
Eventually the topic turned to dating and boys because AJ is a single girl in her twenties and I always feel the need to get in her business and find out if anything is new on the dating front.
Because that’s what married women who are approaching their late thirties do. It’s like a requirement.
On a totally different note, I had a small get together with some of my friends about two weeks ago and during conversation I used the phrase, “As I approach my late thirties…” Gulley stopped me mid-sentence to inform me that I am no longer “approaching my late thirties” but have actually reached that destination.
‘Tis true.
After Gulley reads this later today, she’s going to call me and apologize for how rude that sounded and that she didn’t mean to be rude. And I’ll assure her that one of the reasons I love her is because she will stop me in mid-sentence to remind me that I have safely arrived at my late thirties.
It keeps me grounded. And also reminds me that I need to buy more Oil of Olay next time I’m at the store.
Anyway, I asked AJ about this one boy and she said, “I don’t know. I’m not sure what I think about him.”
Caroline was busy rummaging through the cabinets for cinnamon or more candy canes or a straight up I.V. filled with high fructose corn syrup, but she popped her head out long enough to look at AJ and ask, “Well, would you want to go on a field trip with him?”
I don’t know that any question has ever brought me more joy. While I’m so glad that P is the only one I plan to go on field trips with for the rest of my life, I’m a little sad that I won’t be able to employ “I’d like to go on a field trip with him” as a euphemism for dating.
But I felt that I had to share it with any of the single girls who read the blog. It’s my belated Christmas gift to you.
And honestly I think it’s a good question to ask the next time a boy comes along. Sure he may be cute, but would you want to go on a field trip with him?
Because it’s one thing to like someone enough to sit across from them and carry on a semi-interesting conversation over a nice dinner, but to like someone enough that you’d be willing to ride a yellow school bus with no air-conditioning to go visit a zoo or some sort of farm where you have to pet the livestock just to spend time with them?
That’s when you know it’s true love.