The Gypsy’s Expiration Date

Well, it’s been 3 months – to the day – since my last blog entry. And it’s not because I don’t love you… that’s just not the case. Rather, I have been very pre-occupied as a result of my last entry.

For those of you who don’t know, Debi’s persistence in setting me up with her son paid off this time around and we have been very happily together since August 19.

Now, it would be super easy for me to go on some long, cheesy romantic rant about how he’s gotten me flowers, and how he cooks dinner regularly, and how sweet, romantic, etc he is. But that’s just obnoxious and not very gypsy-like at all.

I think it’s much more important to tell you that tomorrow is the Y2K of my relationship with Eric. The do-or-die. Or, as we’ve coined it, “Our Expiration Date.”

Before I proceed, it’s important for you to know that I could probably publish a book with the stories that the two of us have together already… so all you’re getting is the Reader’s Digest version. And, for those of you who know me well, you know that telling “short” stories does NOT come easily… but I digress.

Over Labor Day weekend, Eric and I went to his parent’s house for a family picnic. A couple of days before hand, Eric tells me that the last girl he took “home” was his prom date. Way to put pressure on a girl. I found myself nervous to go spend time with a family that I ALREADY KNEW! Well, I was nervous for no reason, because his family – like always – was awesome. And, it was that day, that I found myself standing in the kitchen talking to Debi when she dropped the bomb on me, “You know, Eric has never made it past 3 months with a girl.” I turned and look at Eric and, without skipping a beat, said, “you didn’t tell me I had an expiration date!” And so the joke began.

When Stacy (his sister) invited me to Morgan’s (Eric’s niece) birthday party, my response, “I guess it’ll depend on whether or not he dumps me by then.”

When we had our first serious “discussion” (we haven’t fought!), I could see the look in his eyes (I was the one getting in trouble) and I just looked and said, “so this is how I get dumped.” Fortunately, it lightened the mood and didn’t make him more annoyed (phew.)

When we made plans to go see Godspell with my family, I told him, “now, before my mom buys these tickets… I’m not going to expire before the show am I?”

You get the idea. In my truest form, I have held that joke over his head at every situational juncture possible.

Well, tomorrow is that infamous 3 month mark and, unless something drastic happens tonight, I’m gonna be the first girl that makes that mark. But, we shouldn’t be surprised. After all, last weekend, at his parent’s house, I was inside with his mom who brought up our babies while Eric was outside with his dad who asked if we were looking at engagement rings yet.

Both of those topics make me a little nervous... but I find myself cringing less and smiling more.

Only time will tell.