How do you propose to a girl who already knows you will propose to her soon, who has already picked out her engagement ring, who has the wedding planned out already, and whom you know will say yes when you ask for her hand in marriage?
The inner dude in me asks: “Should I even bother? Why can’t I just hand her the ring?”
The sensitive guy in me says: “Yes, because girls like to be romanced and swept off their feet by their knight and shining armor.”
I’m in a quandry.
“I wish I could just stay here with you all day today,” she said as she wraps her arm around me. She buried her head on my chest and squeezed me tighter.
“Will you still say that once we’re married?” I asked.
“Why? Are you worried?”
“Well, I’m just wondering what it’ll be like once we’re married. Will we still have the tolerance for each others bad habits? Are you still gonna be excited to see me everyday? Will you have the same anticipation when I come home from work?”
“Yeah, I know. I wonder too.”
We don’t really know what’s in store for us once we tie the knot, but one thing we know for sure: this song is going to be in our wedding video.
The lady on the next parking stall was patiently waiting for us as we attempted to park her clunker of a car into a compact parking stall. We had to swing her beat-up Toyota Camry several times just so we could squeeze in to that tiny spot. Then after a few minutes of struggle in that small confined space we finally got to park the car.
I jumped out of the car, opened the rear door and grabbed the two small styrofoam coolers rested in the back seat of her car. This way hon, she said as I excitedly followed her. There we stood at the entrance of a small kitchen alongside the boxes, trays, and rolling carts. The space was so small that I was feeling a little claustrophobic. We had to move the carts and boxes as more people were lining up to have there styrofoam coolers filled.
Today we have seven people waiting at home for their meals. This being my first time I’m a bit excited and a bit weary as to how they’d respond to seeing me. They’re used to the regulars that deliver their food and I am not to sure how they’ll receive me in their home.
We arrived at the first house about five minutes early. It’s a retirement apartment complex just at the bottom of Waimano Home Road. The GF knocks on the door. An elderly Chinese lady opens the door and invites us to come inside. She profusely apologizes for her messy domicile, which in reality is actually 100 times cleaner than my apartment. We smiled and told her that she has nothing to worry about. We set up her table — fork and spoon in the proper side of the plate. She thanks us and bid us a safe travel. As we headed back to her car I can’t help but be proud having a girl with such a big heart.
Despite her busy schedule (working 3 jobs and taking her master’s degree) she still manages to squeeze in time to volunteer for Meals-On-Wheels — delivering food to the elderly. When she’s not busy delivering food to the elderly she volunteers for the Food Bank of Hawaii — another charity organization that she supports both physically and financially. As if that wasn’t enough she also sponsors a child in Tanzania through Compassion International.
There are days when I wonder if I’ve made the right choice. Because, sometimes, I must admit that I base my choice on how hot girls look in tight jeans and high heels. But I know from experience that the hot jeans and high heels has nothing to do with relationships. It cannot make the relationship work, nor can it make it last. It is in the heart. And when those days come when I ask my self if I’ve made the right choice, I simply think about the things that she does and why she does it. She has a big heart and most of all I am a better person when I am with her.
Today she turns 31 and I want to make this day special for her, the way she makes other people feel special. Happy birthday my love.
One of the consequences of being in a relationship is having to buy your significant other something for their birthday. And each year the task gets daunting.
The GF will be turning the big 3-1 in a few weeks and has already hinted that she’s expecting something this year by saying: “So, what are you gonna get me for my birthday this year?” (She’s quite subtle, isn’t she?) As you can see I’m not very good at this sort of thing. Not that I don’t want to do something special for her on her birthday but I’m not creative nor am I imaginative enough to pull off a memorable one. I am not a grand magician with a bag of tricks. I also hate shopping.
Last year I took her to the Waikiki Shell to watch the Mraz man live in concert. She absolutely loved me for that. Now, I think I might have set the bar too high.
After 3 months of prodding from my ever-loving ku’uipo (sweetheart), I finally gave in, and made that short trip to the Mililani barbershop last Friday for some much needed follicular management of my sexy mane.
Now the GF can’t help but stare at the newly shorn handsome loverboy that is my head. All weekend, she keeps saying non-stop: “Honey, you should get a haircut more regularly. Because you look so much better when you cut your hair like that.”
I think she’s falling in love with me all over again.
We were driving down the H2 freeway. I shifted the car to 5th gear as we hit the final 5-mile home. She gently rested her head on my shoulders. I grabbed her left hand with my right. She gave out a big sigh.
She held up the heart-shaped pendant I just gave her and looked at it in wonderment. She said, “I have never received jewelry from any of my previous boyfriends ever.” As she held it up I can see the jewelry glimmer as we pass by lamp posts. She looked at me and smiled. “You don’t need to buy me jewelry nor shower me with lavish gifts. I am content with just having you.” I smiled back. “I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all that you’ve done. Thank you,” she continues.
For a guy, being told that he’s appreciated is just as good as being told that he is loved. So I said to her, “I love you too.”
Last year on Valentine’s day I only had $200 to my name, a job that’s two days old (after being unemployed for 5 month and living off my life savings), and one disappointed girlfriend.
This year I am determined to make up for last years disappointment. A Valentine’s present is in order, a dinner date has also been scheduled. And hopefully a happy girlfriend is the end result.
I think I’m slowly climbing my way out of the “Bad Boyfriend” hole to the “Good Boyfriend” level.
The true test on how you’ll know that she’s the right one for you is not in the amount of chemistry you have, nor how compatible you are with each other, but on how well you both handle a situation that will otherwise result in someone getting strangled.
I’m the type of person who dislikes arguments and confrontations. I would deviously figure out a way to get out of such sticky quagmire. That’s why arguments between the GF and I are far and few in between. It hardly ever escalates into a shouting match and never lasts an hour. Our arguments are usually limited to exchanging banters and repartee.
But when arguments ever do arise, it would usually end up like this:
GF: Are you mad at me?
Me: No, of course not (sarcastically).
An awkward silence ensues while we both stew on the matter.
Then just out of nowhere she’d ask:
GF: Do you love me?
Me: No, not right now.
She laughs hysterically at my silly response.
GF: How about later?
Me: How much later?
GF: Two minutes from now?
Me: That’s too soon.
GF: 30 minutes from now then?
Me: Maybe.
She’ll look at me with a silly smile and then make a funny face.Then we’d both laugh at how petty the argument is. We’ll kiss and then make up.
The following conversation occured on Dec 16:
Me: Today is the anniversary of my move to Hawaii. I can’t believe that I’ve lived here for a year now.
The GF: Oh wow! I can still remember cleaning your apartment right before you arrived.
Me: I know. Time went by so fast.
The GF: BTW, what about us? When is our anniversary?
Me: I dunno? I thought you remember?
The GF: No, I don’t remember either.
Me: Well, since today marks the first day where we’re actually living on the same time and space why don’t we make today our anniversary instead.
The GF: Okay. So, where’s my anniversary present?
Me: Here — *kiss*– Happy anniversary.
The GF: That’s it?
Me: Okey, here’s another one — *kiss* — Now where’s mine?
The GF: Here *kiss* Happy anniversary.
Me: Fair enough.
Who would have thought that a very Filipino Cali-boy meeting a Japanese Hawaii-girl would end up falling in love. It started with a meeting in Las Vegas in 2004. Although we both liked each other from the very beginning but we were at a stage in our life where we needed to find our selves. She left for Japan in 2006, for two years to find herself — immersing herself in the land and culture of her forefathers. While, I, on the other was busy making a name for myself.
Although the wide Pacific ocean seemed too vast to span, yet somehow we found a way to bridge that gap. We became good friends despite the fact that we’ve only met each other twice. It was in 2007 that I got to see the real her. Spending two weeks with her and friends in Japan opened my eyes on how special this girl is. It was one cold rainy night in Seoul, South Korea when I asked to her to be my girlfriend. She hesistated and asked me to give her more time to think about it. We still had the vast Pacific ocean to overcome and we couldn’t figure out how to bridge it.
And this is how I know it’s meant to be. When a higher power sets everything in motion and bridges that gap for you. All of sudden that wide ocean that’s been keeping you apart has somehow shrunk. That’s when I knew that this is the girl and this is place where I should be. I have a job that I love and even better the girl that I’ll probably spend the rest of my life with.
I’m not really the type that likes to count days, months, and years. And I’m glad my girlfriend is the same way. Although it is good to remember and celebrate these days but it is not the amount of years that determines the success and failure of a relationship. It’s a matter of building and nurturing that relationship that determines it’s success. I’m no Nostradamus but I know she was made for me.
Our first encounter. (Las Vegas, March 2004)
Harajuku, Japan (March 2007)
DMZ, South Korea (April 2007)
Furano, Japan (December 2008)
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Well, hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
Me: Hey! Look how nice this photo of us came out.
The GF: Let me see.
Me: Here, check this out.
The GF: Blech! This is one ugly photo.
Me: How come? The exposure is perfect, the subjects are in focus, there’s depth of field, and the framing isn’t so bad?
The GF: But look at me here. I look terrible. This has got to be the worst photo ever.
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