Carla Gypsygirl's Blurty

ONE YEAR AND A WEEK!
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Last Sunday- exactly a week ago- Geoff and I celebrated a year together! You may be asking, "A year of what together?" Well, a year of lots of things, I suppose. Put simply, it's been a year of being boyfriend and girlfriend. But more specifically, it's been a year of love, fights, phone calls (three or more a day!), support, encouragement, fashion advice (mutual), visits to each others' churches, tears (mine), meeting extended family, relaxing musical tastes (e.g. he no longer bags Britney, and I no longer whinge about heavy metal), football education (hello, obviously me) and LOTS of dumplings and curried fried rice at Mother Chu's in Chinatown. Of course, there's been heaps of other things going on too, but always not enough time to write them all!

Geoff and I were actually quite shocked that we made it to a year. This is the longest relationship either of us have ever had. And yet, it really does feel like we only just started going out. It feels like it wasn't long ago that we had that awkward, yet thrilling, conversation over pots and pans and pancake batter in Gawler, South Australia. At times, I feel like I'm still getting used to having a boyfriend, seeing as I was single my whole life except for a four-month disaster when I was twenty. And I'm still getting used to the fact that GEOFF is my boyfriend. We spent so long disliking each other, that when we actually did realise that we were perfect together, there were a lot of old thoughts that had to be discarded.

Our time together has been fantastic. I never knew someone could care about me so much. I've never shared so much of my life with someone before. From the very beginning of our romantic relationship, we have always been very close. I tell him everything. One of the things that I love about our relationship is that we are best friends. He's so much fun to hang out with...AND, I get to kiss him! Bonus, or what? I'm really grateful that God brought us together. I really do feel that the Lord awakened feelings for each other within our hearts.

I have felt that it is important to me, though, to write about romantic relationships and singleness today. As a blog-addict, I have noticed that a lot of bloggers tend to write about romantic relationships- either the one they are in, or the one that they yearn for. Of course, I find this to be utterly intriguing. My latest favourite site is http://crush.saturn.org. Click on "Previous Crushees" at the bottom to read many a charming tale. On a tangent, I have realised that it is a wonderful thing to have a crush on your own boyfriend...to appreciate all the silly, sweet things about him (e.g. that he always stands with his feet pointing out, like a ballet dancer; and that when he is feeling sleepy and scruffy, he says that he is "hobolicious").

Anyway. I know that reading all of this love stuff can be pretty heart-wrenching if you don't have a partner. Before Geoff and I started going out, I was always really sad that I didn't have a boyfriend. I got really irritated when I would meet up with friends who would talk endlessly about their partners. I wished that cuddly couples in the street would just cut it out. I felt like the art of the romantic relationship had eluded me somewhat. I had so many crushes- fun crushes, toxic crushes, obsessive crushes, heartbreaking crushes. But at the same time, I was very pro-singleness. I loved the idea that I could do whatever I felt like on the weekends, without having to ask someone else if they wanted to join in. I loved swapping boy stories with my girlfriends. I loved being independent. So when Geoff and I started to go out, I felt like I had lost my identity in a small way. I felt like I had ditched my single friends. I felt like a hypocrite- now I was the one talking about my boyfriend, and hoping that my single friends would understand. It's still kinda tricky to strike a balance between Single Carla and Carla With A Boyfriend. But it's great to be in a brand-new life stage with a totally spunky boy.

I feel that I have learnt a lot since being with Geoff. I realised that having a boyfriend isn't that mysterious. I think that it is all about taking the plunge with someone and actually going out with them or at least talking to them properly (providing that they like you, and you like them, and you have similar life beliefs, etc). I mean, how else are you supposed to get to know what it is like to be in a relationship with someone? I realised that even though having fights can feel like your dreams are shattering around you, fights can make you stronger as a couple. It's so good to talk about things rationally, to have hope, and to pray together. I've realised that as a single person, you can have problems like feeling lonely, fending off unwanted suitors (ha ha), or dealing with annoying questions as to why you don't have a partner. But at the same time, while some of these problems are solved when you are in a relationship, there are also new problems that come with being in a relationship- problems like having less time for your friends, disappointing your partner or even just silly fights. I do think that all of these problems are something that makes up life and God's plan for us. A relationship can't solve all of your problems. I think that it is best to embrace the moment, whether it is a sad embrace or a joyful one. There's always something to be learned.

Anyway! Time for a quick shower before church! Thanks for reading my rambling thoughts about romance. When I have more coherent thoughts, I will write again.

AND: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, hurrah hurrah! I hope you have lots of public holiday fun!

Lots of love,
Carla Gypsygirl

ps. I love you, Geoff!