I have a lot of respect for those in the military (and I've had my fair share, well enough, of them in my life), or at least I thought I did...up until now, I've been very fortunate with the guys I have met, talked to, dated. I know where I stand, and I have very high expectations from those that I may consider being with long term. Thinking back to last year, I remembered how difficult of a time I was having. I remember struggling with my health (as usual), a breakup with the guy I thought was my soulmate and the love of my life, school (like everyone else), and my family life (falling apart, to say the least). I began talking to a guy at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. It definitely kept my mind off of things. He was charming and interesting, not to mention very intelligent (though he would disagree every time I say that) and had a great sense of humor. He was good at Spanish and computer science, and was working towards being a pilot for the Navy.
I talked to him on Facebook for a couple of months towards the end of summer break. Once school started, we were texting. He offered to help me with Spanish, the class I struggled the most with, more so than compsci and later bio and orgo. I had taken Italian before, and Spanish was so difficult for me to transition to. I couldn't rid the sounds of Italian...I was in a class of kids that spoke Spanish relatively fluently and had taken the language before. Mind you, this is Elementary Spanish 1. The basics. Day one, I thought, "Crap. I have to get out of here." I'm going to fail. This boy convinced me otherwise. I remember the first time he called to help me, and he had left a voicemail on my machine. I remember hearing his voice on the recording and thinking to myself how much I liked it. I made my roommate listen to it. I'm pretty sure she laughed at me, but agreed nonetheless.
I enjoyed our conversations. He was able to keep a conversation, was not awkward at all, and my favorite, he was witty at times. But amidst whatever sarcasm or wit, he had class and never once said one disrespectful thing to me. At some point in the beginning of the school year, September, I believe, I remember he had called and we were having a conversation about something music-related and Maroon 5 came up. He told me they were going to be at the Naval Academy, and I thought to myself how unfair it was that they would never come to Duke. I loved Maroon 5 almost as much as I love Josh Groban's music. And that's a lot. That bitterness about not being able to see Maroon 5 was shortlived, because he so thoughtfully invited me to the concert on October 7th, conveniently my fall break. (Inconveniently the Annapolis Boat Show, so the traffic was horrendous)
I never generally went on dates outside of relationships. For me to let someone into my life, means I have to let my whole life in as well. I've been in a few very long relationships. Those people I let into my lives, I let in to stay, at least for a long while. I open up to them in ways I don't open up to most people. And relationships I have always taken more seriously than many people because I don't have a family, per se. It gives me that sense of comfort, love, and dependability, and someone to call when things go wrong.
However, there was no way I could turn this down. I have so much respect for this young man, and I would have to say, he
gave me one of the most memorable experiences that I've had thus far, not so much because of the what we did or where we went but because he showed me what a gentleman should be like: He was respectful and courteous.
My time with him definitely exceeded my expectations. I went into it thinking okay, we're going to a concert and that was more than enough for me, but he made my five hour drive more than worth it.
The first night, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant (definitely thoughtful, considering its my favorite cuisine). Obviously the first time meeting anyone is awkward, so a meal face to face didn't seem exactly comfortable for either of us, but that we made through. We left the restaurant to make it to the concert. I have to say, in the concerts I've been to, many bands or singers live are far from the way they sound autotuned and all. But, Maroon 5...amazing, as expected.
The next morning around 9am, I get a text asking about lunch "naaaooow," as he put it. We went to this boatyard bar and grill in downtown Annapolis. The weather was wonderful and sunny, although I had expected Annapolis to be very cold. Walking through the town (now I've been to Annapolis twice, but this would be the first time I got to actually walk through it), I was completely in love with its movie like feel. It is by far one of the nicest, quaintest towns I've been to and is very nautical and historic, but we all know Maryland is just wonderful in general and definitely at the top of my places to live list.
He also introduced me to the Naval Academy grounds. It was right along the lines of the Annapolis feel, definitely tourist grounds at that time of day. That Saturday, the Navy was conveniently playing University of Southern Mississippi, definitely a game I would enjoy watching, since both teams were familiar to me. Since he had to march in with his company (ironically the same company as my ex), I entertained myself in downtown for the time in between. I walked into a shop here or there. Stepping into this one bookshop in particular, I had a conversation with the most peculiar man who worked behind the coffee counter. He asked where I was from, what I was doing in Annapolis, and who the special young man was. I mentioned I was visiting, but I went to school in North Carolina. I told him not to assume things about me, but that the young man was a midshipman at the Naval Academy. The barista (although he wasn't legitimately a barista), began to delve into the long history of some rivalry between the midshipmen and I forget the name of his school. I clearly wasn't the most attentive, but it was a fun fact I learned when I remembered it. =P
I walked over to the football stadium to wait for everyone to march in. The first time I've been to any Navy sports event was for the Navy/Army lacrosse game, in the freezing, rainy weather the April before. That trip, definitely not worth the time, money, effort, drive....we won't go into that though. We sat away from the student section, but I was able to meet the young man's friends, who came and sat with us. Almost always you can tell a lot about a guy by the types of people he's around. I have to say, they are awesome, sensible, tastefully funny and real--I guess that's the right word. I really enjoyed all of their company. I felt comfortable.
I luckily did not run into my ex once, even at their company's tailgating. Saved a whole lot of explaining, for the both of us. haha.
That night after the eventful day, he offered to complete my tour of the Naval Grounds. He showed me the ins and outs of things such as being an upperclassman as opposed to a freshman, or plebe rather. We went near the rocks where all the sailboats are, and he taught me all about the lighting. I can't say I remember much about the lights/signals (by night it had gotten freezing cold), but I do remember being very pleased to learn something completely foreign to me. It was very, very nice. All together it was a wonderful night.
It was everything a date should be. However, the
most important thing is company, and I have to say this young man set
the bar pretty high. He was confident, competent, both mature and fun,
attentive, and courteous. I appreciated it very much.
Navy or Army?
Hands down, Navy.
(Some blog in the future will give the other side's report.)
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