In Retrospect...

Things Darrell probably wishes he knew before he married me:

• I'm secretly a girly-girl

Remember when this guy showed up in our house? 

I pretty much freaked. I was totally not okay with it, and absolutely refused to walk down the hallway until Darrell did something about it. However, chances are, four years ago I would have knocked that bugger down myself and killed him. What changed? Well, four years ago I was living in a house with four other girls. and when I'm in those situations, I tend to be more inclined to suck it up and be a man (because I refuse to let the bug sit there with no one doing something about it). But when Darrell is around... All bets are off. (Arm me with a can of Raid, however, and I have no fear against wasps.) I still do well when camping though; bugs have never really been an issue there. Maybe it's because we're outdoors and I'm not surprised when bugs turn up? Who knows.

• I have this weird thing with sheets and bedcovers

Image credit here

So apparently in the military beds have to be made so that the sheets are so tight one could bounce a quarter off of them. I secretly strive for that. I've never actually tried, but man, I sure pull those sheets as taut as I can. And that's usually how I make the decision to wash our sheets; not because they are getting gross or anything, but because they are getting too loose (and yes, I have actually pulled the corners of the bed sheet tighter when we've stayed someplace where I deemed them too loose). 

And when we're cuddling under the covers, the comforter has to be pulled up evenly. If I have my side pulled up, then Darrell's side has to be pulled up (but only when we're cuddling). And I certainly don't like when the ends of the comforter bunch up on the sides of the bed; comforters are meant to hang over the sides of the bed, and that's how they shall be in my bed. Sometimes when we're cuddling Darrell will mess the comforter up and move it all around, and it weirdly drives me crazy to the point that I have to fix it or I can't relax. I have no idea if I've always been like this or not, but it kind of drives Darrell a little crazy (so he compensates a messes with things to drive me a little crazy).

• I'm kind of like a gorilla

Photo by Hermann Vollmer

Apparently I have this knack for identifying stray items on Darrell's clothing and body. Rouge hairs, small fuzz, food in his teeth--you name it, I see it. So, my inclination is to pick it off (yes, I have picked stuff out of his teeth when he doesn't have a mirror, but no, I've never eaten any of it like a gorilla would). Well, apparently Darrell doesn't care for this, especially because he thinks that when I'm looking at him when he talks, I'm not really listening but instead looking for ways to groom him (which isn't the case, I promise). He also doesn't like when I just start reaching toward his face to grab a stray eyelash or piece of fuzz tucked behind his ear; apparently it makes him startled or something. But, if it's any consolation, I totally don't do this just to Darrell. I've actually picked a stray hair off someone in front of me at church before (don't worry, they didn't know), and my sister and I constantly pick each other for stray hairs. 

I'm sure there are plenty of other items that could go on the list, but I'll leave it at these for now (and save myself any more embarrassment). Maybe I'll make a running series out of this; I could easily rack up a list of things I wish I had known about Darrell before we got married :-)