Get Out Of My Head

One of the things that I'll probably never get used to about being in a relationship with the same person for years and years and years...... ;-) is how well you begin to know each other. Seeing as how I don't think we ever really fully know ourselves, its crazy sometimes how well other people learn our ways, our little glitches and our behaviors.

I bring this up because something funny happened the other day while me and the Mrs. sat in a fast food drive thru. Now, you may not find it as entertaining as we did but I'll tell you the story anyway.

As we moved from one point to the next in the line, we carried on normal conversation about one thing or another (mostly our daughter), not paying much attention at all to our surroundings, ie the cars ahead of us, the funny smell by the menu thingy, or the songs on the radio. Eventually I ordered our food, moved to the next window and paid for our food, and finally moved to the next window to collect our food.

As I pulled up to the final stage of the drive thru process we continued our conversation as I turned towards the window in anticipation of receiving our goods. When I turned my head I was greeted by a young, very attractive woman holding my food with a large, warm, friendly smile on her face.

"Hey, how are you?" she asked. And as I fixed my lips to reply, a sly whisper filled my ear from the passenger seat. It said...

"Don't get cut honey."

Now for any of you that may not recognize it, "don't get cut" is a phrase often used in African American domestic environments with many translations such as, "don't say anything stupid" or "do the right thing" or "don't do the WRONG thing" and so on.

Right away I couldn't help but laugh because in the back of my mind, deep down in the furthest corner of my mind, I was provoked by the attractive young woman's smile into, let's say, being a little too receptive to her warmth. The crazy part is that the Mrs. seemingly knew before I did, that the potential for something stupid was present, hence, the warning... "don't get cut honey".

As I pulled out of the parking lot we laughed for a few minutes because it was so funny to me that she practically read my mind and I think the fact that I was so amused, made it funny for her as well.


I guess it's one of those "cup half full, half empty" scenarios where you want to be with someone who knows you like the back of their hand but at the same time, if they know what you're thinking before you do, then where's the excitement in that? I'm not complaining and I wouldn't have it any other way, I guess it's just another one of those things that comes with the territory in The Twilight Zone.... I mean domestication.

Cp

Zari

Well it's official. I am a Dad. My daughter was born February 28, 2008 at 2:11 a.m. But before you congratulate me, let me finish the story. Baby girl arrived 10 weeks earlier than her due date and the whole "premature/preterm" birth thing has my mind all cloudy and jumbled with crazy thoughts, expectations and worries.

One thing that I've struggled with a little bit is all of the "congrats" we've received. I guess in my mind I would rather everyone save their congrats for when we get to bring our baby home which could be months from now. Unlike my significant other, I try to stay away from the stories or the statitics about premature babies because I don't need the external info that might make me get my hopes up or put me in a worse mood than I'm in already.

I like to think of my baby girl as an original. The standard operating procedures don't apply to her because she may progress or recuperate differently than the babies you've read about before. It's all about optimism and outside influences have a way of dampening that sometimes.

So far the Docs say she's doing well, breathing very well on her own, digesting mom's milk and just really moving along at the top of her class (other babies born at 27 weeks) and as long as I continue to get reports like that, I'm right as rain.

But it's scary. Scary to fall in love so quickly just to...well, you know.

But the bright spot in all of this (other than my teeny tiny baby girl) is that in times like this you really know who holds you in their hearts. Friends and family that call everyday to check on baby and mom, parents and grandparents that make sure you're eating and that your home is comfortable, and everyone else who gives you strength and motivation just by letting you know they care. Not to sound too sappy, but it's an amazing thing to really REALLY know that you're loved. If I think about it too long it might even make me shed a tear or two so I try not to. But I recognize that love truly is a blessing.

Just like my daughter... ;-)

Cp