I dated a guy in a wheelchair. Yeah. I don't need any awards, not really. Plus, it was just one date. And I was hell-bent on making it a wonderful time for the guy. His legs didn't worked, but at least he had me. Part-way through the appetizer I decided I'd marry the guy.
I didn't particularly like his personality, but he'd become paralyzed in an accident, so--what the heck--I'd sacrifice my life to entertain him.
I was sixteen. Smart enough to realize our marriage might not be that great--solely because my torso was longer than his. When we went to a movie later that night, he sat three inches shorter than me. I bent my giraffe-like neck, trying to rest my head on his shoulder. But his shoulder was far lower than mine, and after a while my crooked neck pulsed with pain.
The movie looked weird sideways--but who cared--I was putting my head on this guy's shoulder 'cause he was in a wheelchair. My vision blurred. Blood went into my forehead and I nearly blacked out.
We still didn't get along too well, but it was more romantic than dying in love's embrace. So I kinda grew teary-eyed, thinking how bad my neck hurt for love. Someday we'd get married. I'd be in a neck brace and he'd be in his wheelchair. Yeah.
When I was sixteen, I had the best intentions. It's a good thing the guy didn't marry me--the worst thing that could've happened to him. He may have been in a wheelchair, but I was the one with an underdeveloped brain.
Anyway, I thought about this memory and laughed out loud. Did you ever do something completely stupid when you were a teenager on a date?
Aw, shucks! I was hoping to read a whole bunch of comments. When I was about thirteen a guy was interested in me, but NOT me in him. Well, I had a long path through a park to traverse on the way home from school, and I knew he was trying to catch up with me, so I walked really fast. He finally caught up and puffed; "You really walk fast." End of romance story.
ReplyDeleteAh, young love.
ReplyDeleteI remember the young man, at about age 13, who loved me madly and proposed marriage...at a later date of course.
He was cute, smart, and hadn't sprouted pimples (yet) but his last name? It sounded rather like a cat trying to rid itself of a spiked hairball. I, in my youthful wisdom, decided I couldn't face the prospect of being called Mrs.Spiky Hairball for the rest of my days.
When I was sixteen, my friends set me up on a date. I was so shy though, I didn't say a word all night. Yeah, I was loads of fun to be with.
ReplyDeleteI guess the better question would be "did I ever do anything NOT stupid when I was a teenager?"
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a senior in HS on of the kids in my homeroom was in an accident and became paralyzed. He was an awesome kids, and his parents gave him two weeks to feel sorry for himself. He sold his dirt bikes, bought himself a Porsche, and the other day I saw him on the news.
Seems he just finished the Hawaiian Iron Man.
He's a stronger person than I will ever be, and he only has use of half his body.
Clearly, I need a nap. There are so many typos in this comment I don't know where to start. Sorry. :)
ReplyDeleteIn my late teens I was living with my boyfriend in Washington, DC. We were both in college. I also had a part time job working for my Congressman, who was a lovely lovely man. One afternoon in the office with everyone else there, he said to me, "I was sitting behind you and Tom in the Circle Theater, last night!" I was surprised, but then he said to everyone, "They sure didn't see me or anyone else -- they were too busy getting up to mischief"! Totally totally untrue, but I was so embarrassed! Fortunately, my sense of humor did not abandon me and I retorted, "Congressman, why ever would we do that when we have an apartment for such things."
ReplyDeleteYou have such a good heart, even though this made me really laugh. I remember a time when I was 17 and met a man in Florence, Italy nightclub who was a dwarf drummer, but it's too long and ultimately too embarrassing to share!
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny post. I don't think I did anything embarrassing on a date, but something funny happened when I went out with "George" to see Jaws. When the shark first rose up at the boat, George fell out of his seat. I watched out of the corner of my eye as he looked to see if I was watching while he gathered himself off the floor and returned to his seat. I stared at the screen very intently and pretended nothing had happened.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
haha well at least you'd have each other with your issues, sure you'd get used to seeing the world sideways
ReplyDeleteTrying to lean your head on his shoulder at the cinema is a brilliant image. As for myself I never did anything daft on a date, even as a teenager. Oh, apart from borrowing a black velvet jacket from a mate to wear on a date. He was about three sizes smaller than me and the sleeves ended about half way down my forearms and it wouldn't meet across my chest. Nevertheless I thought I looked cool. She soon advised me that I didn't.
ReplyDeleteNo. I was/am perfect.
ReplyDeleteDear Elisa, I dated very little in high school or college due to shyness and an extremely bad case of acne. But after leaving the convent, I did date a little. On a blind date the following happened: He picked me up at my apartment and drove to the friends who had set us up and were having a party. He followed me from room to room all during the party. I couldn't escape him. As the day wore on into evening I became extremely tired. When that happens, I become more and more silent, too exhausted to think, much less talk.
ReplyDeleteSo on the drive home, I said nothing. When he walked me to my apartment's door, he asked to come in. I said, "I'm so sorry, but not tonight." At which point he said, "You started out interesting. But you sure turned into a dog!" I was mortified and that the last time I heard from him. Peace.
We were never allowed to date as a teenager. Mine was an arranged marriage and we have been married for forty years.
ReplyDeleteEven at 16, you were a noble human being!
ReplyDeleteI lied and said I was 18, when I was 15. She was a lady and everything, with an apartment. She even offered me beer. If my voice hadn't cracked, who knows what would have happened.
ReplyDeleteSo you were Miss Super-Compassionate even as a teen. I sort of figured that.
ReplyDeleteWell, you certainly have a good heart! I'm glad you ended up with the right guy!
ReplyDeleteHis legs not working probably wasn't the best reason in the world for getting married.
ReplyDeleteStill, at 17 I was determined that the boy who I was dating who then announced he was gay only needed to spend more time with me to realise how wrong he was. Bless him, even if he hadn't been gay I'm sure my almost stalking him didn't exactly help him to decide that, yeah, I was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
I had the exact opposite experience, and I, too, had an underdeveloped brain. I dated a guy in a wheelchair off and on from the time we were in 7th grade until I met my first husband at the age of 22. I was madly in love with the guy in the wheelchair, but even after all that time together I was afraid of the chair. I didn't know how to react in all situations, and I wanted to dance at my wedding. I gave up something incredibly wonderful (he had asked me to marry him several times), because I had fears and didn't communicate well. His wife is one VERY lucky woman.
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