Corndogs + Avocados

A page from our visit to the Bloedel Reserve:

Darin and I have been walking through the gardens of the Bloedel Reserve for about an hour. We?ve been talking softly and taking in the first truly warm and glorious day of spring.

We walk past a weeping willow. Then past a graceful magnolia surrounded by a carpet of its fallen blossoms.

Darin turns to me and gently extends his hand towards the place where my neck and chin and ear meet. I?m wearing a pair of earrings I bought while he was out of town last month. He was gone for four weeks. I?m feeling that tingly sensation you get when you know a cute boy is going to be tender with you.

His fingers come nearer and he says, ?Are those zits??

Ah, romance.

?No.? I point to my neck. ?This is a mole. And this one, yes, is a zit. Thanks for pointing that out.?

?Why are you mad at me??

?Just don?t talk.?

We enter the visitor?s center and explore the rooms on our own. By the time we get back outside, we have both gotten over the crink in an otherwise perfect afternoon. We see in a distant tree the bobbing heads of two bald eagles who have made a home in an enormous nest there. Their eggs recently hatched according to some photos we saw in the visitor?s center.

?Do you have any idea why your zit comment was so devastating??

?No! I said what I said because I love you and I care about you!?

?Honey. I haven?t seen you for four weeks. I just cut all my hair off and bought these dangly new earrings. When you reached your hand out and almost touched me I thought for sure you were going to say ?Are those? new earrings? Wow you?re beautiful. I?m the luckiest man alive.? Instead you said, ?Are those?zits??

We both erupt with laughter.

?You pointed out the ugliest thing about me today. I?m curious to know how that was meant lovingly.?

Now ladies, here is a glimpse into the male psyche.

?I totally said that out of concern! I looked at you and wondered if they hurt. I wondered if you were alright. I was noticing you and trying to be loving.?

?For future reference, pointing out my disgusting blemishes is not particularly endearing. If you want to woo and wow me, try a compliment. Or even just caress my cheek and don?t say anything. In fact, that may be your safest move.?

Much laughter.

Needless to say, since then, Darin has taken great strides to see if I?m ever wearing earrings and to point out how precious they are two or three times a day.