Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Oh The Things It Makes You Do...

Have you ever felt as if someone reached inside your chest, grabbed your heart with their hand and squeezed firmly refusing to let go? The first time you physically laid eyes on someone?

I'll raise my hand. And I'll name it. The "Crushing Hard" heart.

My junior year of college, I saw this gorgeous hunk of a guy at a kegger his fraternity was throwing. My best girlfriend, afraid I would embarrass myself AND her, told me to, "Pull it together. Put your tongue back in your mouth and wipe the drool from your chin." 

"Okay!" 

It wasn't that bad but I was crushing bigger and harder than ever before and we didn't know what to do. 

I was bitten by "love at first sight". 

I had him in a class too, Business Writing, and his physical presence (so he walked in and sat down) made my schoolgirl heart want to leap out of my body, onto his desk and scream, "Talk to me, please!" 

There were a few problems...(1) we didn't know each other (some silly eye contact was all) and (2) I was shy.

He always boxed in a campus charity event called "Fight Night". So my girlfriends devised a plan to get this tough, and naughty as the day was long, guy's guy to notice their girlfriend and ask her out.

They cast me as our sorority’s entry for "Miss Fight Night" claiming it was the only way to help a sister out because no one really knew him. RIGHT! Yet, they also knew it wasn't "me" to get up in a ring in front of a thousand plus people, all dressed up, and I’d most likely chicken out.  

Never underestimate the highly motivated.

“We” came in second but he saw me in the ring before his light heavyweight fight. I waved and the hook was set.

Who knew he’d be the most sensitive guy in the world?

Or we’d date for years and think it would last forever.

19 comments:

lumdog2012 said...

Great story Gina. I think you nailed the prompt with your use of "heart". I think it got a workout in those days trying to catch the guy!

Gina said...

Maybe I should have called it the "aerobic" heart from all that running. What is it with the chase, anyway? "The Heart wants what it wants" I suppose.

Jack said...

The heart wants what the heart wants and it is not easily denied.

Annabelle said...

"Never underestimate the highly motivated" made me laugh. I certainly know the feeling you're talking about!

Gina said...

You are right on that...not easily denied. Although, I'm old enough now to know that having everything you want is impossible.

Gina said...

I'm so glad it made you laugh! I suppose you have to want it bad enough and go after it with the understanding that it might not always go that way. I got an "A" for effort that's for sure. Nothing like love at first sight or love, period!

Anonymous said...

takes me back to those good old school days! i loved the story and how it ended. nice!

Gina said...

I loved school, college. It was a nice and fun and happy place for me to revisit today. Thanks for liking, Renada.

Jack said...

Wait did someone say old. ;)

It is not so much about what we want as it is trying to balance that against what we need.

According to Mags... said...

This is such a great story!

Jester Queen said...

So 'think it would last forever' - this guy is an ex, right? Or is he your current 'going to last forever?' guy? What a fun story, and what a hilarious way to pursue a crush!! And oh yeah. I had a ton of relationships in my head that the guy never knew anything about. That crushing hard heart ... been there.

Gina said...

Did you just call me old??? ;-)

Yes! It is that fine balance for which we strive. Well said.

Gina said...

Thanks, Mags! It was a great time in my life.

Gina said...

No, JQ. This was the thought and hoped would last forever at 20 - 23 years old. My husband has been around for the last 25 years which will stay the same for the next 25.

Not my idea to pursue a crush in this fashion but leave it to my very imaginative college girlfriends! He might have caught on a little bit before the whole boxing ring thingy. Do you think I was too obvious? Oh boy...that crushing hard heart really squeezes tightly!

Trifecta said...

There is nothing better than that rush of the crushing hard heart. Except, of course, for that crush being reciprocated. Thanks for playing along with us this week. We hope to see you back soon.

R.L.W. said...

Fun, sweet story. Thanks for sharing :-).

Gina said...

Thanks, R.L.W.

TMWHickman said...

Crushes are wonderful for the heart, and they inspire our imagination. Crushes give us fond memories, too! I loved this, having watched a hunk of my own during Fight Night so very long ago.

Gina said...

So true! They do provide tremendous inspiration! Oh, so you have a very similarly fond Fight Nght memory! Lucky us!