Friday, June 28, 2013

A Word from the Girl Next Door


College life has taught me many things, from how to properly cite academic research, to how to expertly grovel at the feet of your professors in the hopes of getting an extended due date after a particularly adventurous Thursday night downtown expedition. As a twenty-something female though, I’d have to say that the most vicious college life lesson is the infamous break-up. To be fair, I've had a whopping two and a half (see my previous post) boyfriends the three years I've been in college and they were disappointing for the most part…ha. Though the first of the two (and a half) lasted four years, branching from high school, and the most recent lasting a whole three months, don’t be too impressed, a break-up is still…a break-up.



It seems to me that in every break-up there’s a casualty, on both sides no matter the duration or feelings involved. Whether it’s a lost shirt, a collection of CD’s, jewelry or maybe a favorite pillow, there is always something that doesn't find its way back to its original owner’s hands. The ultimate question however, is who gets the public stuff. Everyone has their hangouts – but after a couple splits, who gets where?



I've had a few relationships in my short twenty years, and about two and a half break-ups to go along with them. Break-ups are always messy it seems, so I can’t say that one was better than the other, they all have their own special chip in my young, angsty shoulder. My most recent break-up however presented its own interesting challenges. I made the beautiful decision of dating my polar opposite neighbor. He was great, in his own right, so I won’t really take the time to bad mouth him, the point is – we broke up. 


And he lives less than 100ft away from my apartment. GRRREATT (And not in the Tony the Tiger way).


The casualties of this miniature catastrophe went far beyond the t-shirt I claimed or the CD’s I haven’t gotten back yet – who get’s the sidewalk? I mean on the one hand, it gives me the motivation needed to always at least attempt to put together a descent outfit, because, it’s not the months down the road embarrassing crossing of paths, it’s a daily slanted grin kinda incident. But on the other, it leaves plenty of room for speculation – which is a nice way to say obsession. But what about when we’re not at home? Who gets the popular Thursday night hangout? And does running into each other all the time at home mean we should avoid where the other works?


So with this comes my advice, DON’T DATE YOUR NEIGHBOR! NEVER EVER. (Unless you look deep into their eyes as they’re carrying their couch and smelly socks up the stairs and you fall deeply into love immediately) Don’t do it. Seriously.



Oh! And keep tabs of the stuff you exchange, it’s not exactly fun to have to dig up old sentimental dirt when you just aren’t feeling it anymore….














PS: Bay is Thing 1--she's decided to go ahead & use her name AND she may start her own blog-- YAY! Have a great weekend everyone!


11 comments:

  1. "who gets the sidewalk"
    I love that!
    And I love your honest outlook.
    Sometimes we don't think of these things going in, huh?
    Been a loooong time for me since the dating world, but I enjoy the stories.
    I live through you.
    Because otherwise I would just be doing laundry.
    Or cleaning up after the husband.
    Look what you have to look forward to. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, thank you! I'm glad someone else can appreciate my dilemma haha.

      Delete
  2. Too funny! I didn't get the college experience...I met my hubby when I was 17 and was married at 18 but I totally lived vicariously through others and can relate. And I still steal his clothes BTW but he does all of our laundry and cleans so SCORE!

    I am hosting a bloghop today and would love you to swing by and link up! I hope to see you there! http://ffflinkypals.blogspot.com/2013/06/its-friday-follow-along-linkup.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That definitely sounds like a win, win situation :) Thank you!

      Delete
  3. That does sound like an awkward situation! Good luck.

    All the best with the new blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I"m sure I'll find some way to manage :D Thank you!

      Delete
  4. That's some wise advice there, although I firmly believe you should keep the sidewalk and the Thursday night hangout. Because you had them first. Although you can be magnanimous and let him have it between 2:00 and 4:00 am in the morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you're exactly right! My sidewalk! And my hangout spot! hahahaha....I may see fit to be magnanimous on special occasions, but only if I get my CD's back :p

      Delete
  5. Hello! Hello!

    Some great advice here! I was always one for saying to myself "If only I'd thought of that at the time!"

    Great to "meet" you Bay!

    Kate x
    Just Pirouette and Carry On...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, indeed, indeed. Great to "meet" you too!

      Delete
  6. Hey, Bay. (= While I am decades past dating, my daughters aren't. Every time I see them drifting into deep affection (and thusly, eventual heartbreak vulnerability), I have to start self talking. Be happy for them in the moment. Trust the process. Really hard for moms to watch break-ups happen. And...reflecting back to my brief dating years, heart breaks made major ripples that I still feel today (met an old heartbreak at a wedding reception a month ago...shoot no warts or mean wrinkles--he even seemed nice, surprise). Though the pain is long gone, the impact is significant. Hitting icebergs doesn't always sink us, but it does alter our course at least a bit. Here's hoping the neighbor awkwardness wears off fast...or the lease runs out soon. And here's hoping too that you weather any resulting sadness well.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! It is most appreciated~*