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PaperclipPerfector  8d ago (text post)   2572 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for February 14, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I think I've been in love, butterflies in the stomach, heart thumping at the sight of them love twice in my life. Mere lust or fondness? I think I've lost count.

The first instance was painful. A pining adolescent romance for someone who was emotionally unavailable, and just not that into me. I thought the fact we were going out on dates and that she was coming over was enough, while doing my best to ignore the fact that while we were in college and her friends were around, she'd treat me as if I was just one of them.

The second... It didn't pan out. At this point I'm well over the bitterness, and I wish I had understood we weren't compatible, but as the bitter and wise say, when you're in love and have rose-tinted goggles on, red flags look just like flags.

The two of them could have passed for sisters (if absolutely nothing alike personality-wise, barring a love for dogs). I guess twice bitten forever shy? I'm sure it'll happen again, if experience is any hint, I never have a choice in the matter. I thought both of them were the One (or two, in rapid succession), and was at the "We'll get married eventually" stages with the latter, but alas.

I tell myself I don't miss them. And it's mostly true.

I've had that feeling a few times. It... never went well. Got summarily shot down every single time, and eventually learned to dread those feelings of attraction. The last time it happened to me, I remember saying "oh crap" out loud once I realized what was going on.

Oddly enough, though I'm happily married now I never felt that way about my wife really. I liked her, certainly, but I didn't spend time mooning over her or get a jolt in my stomach when I saw her. Probably has something to do with the fact I was 30 when we met, I imagine. Mainly the process of dating my wife was one of existential terror, as literally every step (first date, first kiss, and so on) was the furthest I had ever made it with a woman. So I was terrified of doing something to fuck it up. Then on top of that, I had to try to figure out if I really liked her, or if I just liked that she was the first woman to show any interest in me. That was a tough bit of introspection. But it all worked out in the end, so I guess I can't complain too much. I wouldn't go back to those days for any amount of money, though. Way too complicated.

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