I got into an interesting discussion with the girls last night when they asked each other "What's your ideal man?" I responded by telling them "Sometimes what you want isn't what you get because it's not what you need" -- Snickers is the prime example of that.
My ideal type was always a bilingual, educated extremist who had traveled. Whether they were extremists with their hobbies or work, I had always dated high achievers who stood out. There was the retired pro soccer player, the elite senior executive, the bodybuilder...s, and even a pro wrestler. I think perhaps Q was the only exception but then again we kind of "fell" into that relationship. He was once a pro boxer but had retired early and was happy just trying to be the best nice guy possible. Super great guy but he knew he could never keep me, none of them could... none of them did.
And then I met Snickers -- he didn't speak a word of English, had only graduated from high school, and he came from what felt like a polar opposite of my world and not just because he was from Korea. I had been raised by a stereotypical white-picket fence family who every Sunday took me to church and then helped me with my homework. Snickers, on the other hand, had been abandoned by his mother, left for his father to raise him with his two sisters, bullied other kids at school to do his homework and, while I was at university, he was doing hard time in jail. He was the bad boy and, both at the boxing club and during his televised boxing bouts people, including the media, were quick to harp on his bad boy past and bring it up. While so many view this as defining and labeling him negatively I on the other hand am quite proud of him because it and hence why I bring it up. I'm not proud of what he did to get himself in such a position but I'm surely proud of how he bettered himself because of it -- how he made something of himself while so many, including family, were quick to label him as nothing. And as for traveling, the first time he ever stepped foot out of Korea to travel was on our honeymoon. I never did think I was better than him, just so different, but I must admit I definitely didn't feel our two worlds had anything in common and hence how my initial curiosity in him arose.
Meeting Snickers was a very humbling experience for me because all my life I really had it easy and though yes I did have bad times, they were rather self-imposed. But Snickers, he had come from a much harder life than me but he never expected pity from others or expected others to give him a break because of it. He's worked hard for what he's got and where he is. He's a man who I was quick to learn that he could do anything and everything if he simply made up his mind to take on and in return he's taught me that I can do and be the same. So is he my ideal type?! Oh gosh no. He's by no means the perfect man but ironically enough he's perfect for me -- he's exactly who I needed.
Today after we returned home from the beach, we had a ton of camping gear to unpack and clean so we decided to not open the club for the day. I had just spent a great weekend away with Snickers and friends and I ended it feeling so grateful for Snickers. He had put so much effort into preparing our camping trip despite learning it'd only be for a few of us. The low numbers had kind of got to me, I admit it, but Snickers reassured me that he didn't care if anyone or no one showed up; he just wanted to have a good time with me.
Last night I must admit I had spoiled his good time with me when us girls went walking on the beach and let time slip by without realizing it. We had seen fireworks going off ahead of us so we decided to continue towards it. An hour or so later we had finally turned back and arrived back at our tent. Snickers was ticked and I honestly had no idea why. As it turns out, he had launched somewhat of a search party for us among Panty Boy Jr. and others. He thought something had happened to me so panic hit. Nothing did happen to me but was he beyond worried. Later on, after we had arrived home, I thought more about this and had a little giggle. "Did I scare you?" I asked him. As most of my friends know, Snickers is all about teasing me by trying to scare me and, though I may try, I never seem to be able to scare him back. Apparently last night I had.
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