I'm not sure if it's Boston, or just Citysports, but all too often these miserable couples come into the store buying various sporting equipment - and you can just tell from the start the relationship is doomed to fail. I almost want to go Oprah on them and tell them to get the hell out and stop wasting their lives. These couples roll their eyes at each other, cut each other off, butt in when I'm asking the other person about what they're looking for, parent each other, and all around just have no communication skills. They're usually a younger couple - in their late 20s - but occasionally a married couple will come in. And I just pray it's an off day for them, that they're not always like that.
Tonight another miserable couple come into Citysports. The high-maintenance, matching Nike sweat suit, glasses, pure white sneakers, Tennis and Racket club member boy was in DIRE need of "non-marking Squash shoes" as soon as possible, to start his training, obviously. He was foreign, but not very. Just dark hair and a stupid sounding accent - and his glasses magnified his eyes so he looked like a fly. And he had a habit of squishing his nose and squinting, he looked so dumb. But you could tell daddy owned a bank, or a country.
And this cute girl he was with was wearing a long skirt, flip flops and a tank. She was pretty enough, but not exactly gorgeous. But she was nice, in an kinder garden teacher, girl-you-bring-home-to-mom kind of way.
And he kept interrupting everything she said, putting it down and making her look stupid, even when she had legitimate things to say. He asked for a size 13, and as soon as he slipped them on the shoes were CLEARLY a size too big, and she pointed it out, putting an entire hand behind his foot and the back of the shoe, and he cut her off, saying it didn't matter because he would be marking sharp stops, not walking or running in them.
She suggested he walk in them to make sure they were comfortable. He refused. saying, "I just told you, it doesn't matter."
She asked if we had a half size smaller. He cut her off and said she wasn't listening to him, that it didn't matter.
As a shoe expert, I say it DOES matter and the shoes were CLEARLY too big. He refused my advice, too. Not even looking at me.
She suggested they try another store, he cut her off again saying, "They are more comfortable than the ones I have on now and I need to start my training as soon as possible. Like tomorrow. I cannot afford to wait a week." Who are you? The next Lance of squash? Squash isn't even a sport, it's a vegetable related to the pumpkin and the gourd.
He then proceeded to jump around the store, making full force stops on his toes - I was pleased when another customer gave him the, "you have two heads" look. The girl sat on the bench.
She the got up and pulled another one off the shelf and asked if he liked those. He replied, "those are not non marking. Those look like clown shoes."
Actually sir, they are. In fact, ALL of our shoes are non marking. And in addition t this, those are the most popular court shoe we sell. Unlike the grandpa New Balance all whites you have on.
He then took off the shoes, threw them in the box, got up and said "we're done here."
She trailed off behind him, looking defeated.
Another time another couple came in - a VERY attractive couple. He had extremely seasoned runners legs and a Nike getup that screamed Summer Season Magazine 2010 and she...well, she looked like the only sweating she got in was power walking from shoe store to shoe store on Newbury street. They both wore designer clothes and had that high maintenance presence about them...but the guy was nice enough. He confidently walked right up to me, she walked lazily behind him, like a child going to the dentist, and announced they were looking for running shoes, I showed him the men's wall. He said, "no...WOMENS running shoes." She rolled her eyes.
He told me her size, what she was looking for, how much she ran, how much she planned on running...all while she sat cross legged on the bench texting with her freshly manicured nails. I did as I was told and brought out various running shoes, and she half hearted put them on, refusing the best brand we carry, Asics, because, "those are notttt cute."
She would put them on, slowly walk to the mirror smacking her gum, turn side ways and clearly be checking out her stomach and ass, not the shoes. He would ask how they felt and she would snap back, "I don't know. I don't know how they are supposed to feel." then go sit back down.
He then explained he was running his 3rd marathon and she wanted to run some of his training runs with him. Clearly that's EXACTLY what she wants to do...as she checks out the rainbow flip flops. It became clear to me the only marathon she was ever going to do was watching the Hills season finale. So I sold them the most expensive, pink Nikes we carry and sent them on their way. And I would bet my life that those Nikes are still in the box.
I honestly feel so terrible for all people in this situation. The relationship where nothing she says is taken valuably or seriously. The relationship where she is high maintenance and doesn't even want to try taking an interest in anything he does. He looks at her as his trophy to parade around so everyone can coo and comment on what an adorable, successful couple they are. She puts his arm on his waste as if to say, "back off I snagged this one." Both these couples were in their late 20s...were they so scared of being alone at 30 that they settled being miserable at 27? Not once did either couple actually look at each other, or acknowledge what the other person had to say. She will always be his girlfriend, his wife, his thing to come home to. She will never be his equal, and she has no idea what it means to be truly appreciated and happy in a relationship. And he will continue to either ignore her or parent her - obviously taking the dominant position. I can't imagine their home life, if this is how they treat each other in public.
It makes me really appreciate and be truly thankful for my relationship with Chris - where people come up to us all the time and ask, "when the wedding?" because when we're together, we both glow. Everything, even grocery shopping, is turned into a huge adventure with him. Our random errands and outings are spent laughing, complimenting, and goofing around. We have only gotten into one "disagreement" in over 3 months, and that was completely my fault - I was running on zero sleep, stressed out from class and work, and exhausted to the point where I started crying in Trader Joe's - and Chris was amazing about it. When I snapped at him for absolutely no reason, he walked silently next to me and let me cool off....and of course I apologized half a block later and the next moment we were completely fine. When we got home, he made me go take a nap.
I just hope that all people in the world can find a relationship that is even half as good as mine...it's worth the wait, and I just wish people would see that it's not worth 'having someone" just to have someone, that they have to find the right some one. Not someone they can live with, someone they can't live without.
I could honestly talk about how awesome a good relationship can be all day...but I have to go work now!
love love love,
me
Tonight another miserable couple come into Citysports. The high-maintenance, matching Nike sweat suit, glasses, pure white sneakers, Tennis and Racket club member boy was in DIRE need of "non-marking Squash shoes" as soon as possible, to start his training, obviously. He was foreign, but not very. Just dark hair and a stupid sounding accent - and his glasses magnified his eyes so he looked like a fly. And he had a habit of squishing his nose and squinting, he looked so dumb. But you could tell daddy owned a bank, or a country.
And this cute girl he was with was wearing a long skirt, flip flops and a tank. She was pretty enough, but not exactly gorgeous. But she was nice, in an kinder garden teacher, girl-you-bring-home-to-mom kind of way.
And he kept interrupting everything she said, putting it down and making her look stupid, even when she had legitimate things to say. He asked for a size 13, and as soon as he slipped them on the shoes were CLEARLY a size too big, and she pointed it out, putting an entire hand behind his foot and the back of the shoe, and he cut her off, saying it didn't matter because he would be marking sharp stops, not walking or running in them.
She suggested he walk in them to make sure they were comfortable. He refused. saying, "I just told you, it doesn't matter."
She asked if we had a half size smaller. He cut her off and said she wasn't listening to him, that it didn't matter.
As a shoe expert, I say it DOES matter and the shoes were CLEARLY too big. He refused my advice, too. Not even looking at me.
She suggested they try another store, he cut her off again saying, "They are more comfortable than the ones I have on now and I need to start my training as soon as possible. Like tomorrow. I cannot afford to wait a week." Who are you? The next Lance of squash? Squash isn't even a sport, it's a vegetable related to the pumpkin and the gourd.
He then proceeded to jump around the store, making full force stops on his toes - I was pleased when another customer gave him the, "you have two heads" look. The girl sat on the bench.
She the got up and pulled another one off the shelf and asked if he liked those. He replied, "those are not non marking. Those look like clown shoes."
Actually sir, they are. In fact, ALL of our shoes are non marking. And in addition t this, those are the most popular court shoe we sell. Unlike the grandpa New Balance all whites you have on.
He then took off the shoes, threw them in the box, got up and said "we're done here."
She trailed off behind him, looking defeated.
Another time another couple came in - a VERY attractive couple. He had extremely seasoned runners legs and a Nike getup that screamed Summer Season Magazine 2010 and she...well, she looked like the only sweating she got in was power walking from shoe store to shoe store on Newbury street. They both wore designer clothes and had that high maintenance presence about them...but the guy was nice enough. He confidently walked right up to me, she walked lazily behind him, like a child going to the dentist, and announced they were looking for running shoes, I showed him the men's wall. He said, "no...WOMENS running shoes." She rolled her eyes.
He told me her size, what she was looking for, how much she ran, how much she planned on running...all while she sat cross legged on the bench texting with her freshly manicured nails. I did as I was told and brought out various running shoes, and she half hearted put them on, refusing the best brand we carry, Asics, because, "those are notttt cute."
She would put them on, slowly walk to the mirror smacking her gum, turn side ways and clearly be checking out her stomach and ass, not the shoes. He would ask how they felt and she would snap back, "I don't know. I don't know how they are supposed to feel." then go sit back down.
He then explained he was running his 3rd marathon and she wanted to run some of his training runs with him. Clearly that's EXACTLY what she wants to do...as she checks out the rainbow flip flops. It became clear to me the only marathon she was ever going to do was watching the Hills season finale. So I sold them the most expensive, pink Nikes we carry and sent them on their way. And I would bet my life that those Nikes are still in the box.
I honestly feel so terrible for all people in this situation. The relationship where nothing she says is taken valuably or seriously. The relationship where she is high maintenance and doesn't even want to try taking an interest in anything he does. He looks at her as his trophy to parade around so everyone can coo and comment on what an adorable, successful couple they are. She puts his arm on his waste as if to say, "back off I snagged this one." Both these couples were in their late 20s...were they so scared of being alone at 30 that they settled being miserable at 27? Not once did either couple actually look at each other, or acknowledge what the other person had to say. She will always be his girlfriend, his wife, his thing to come home to. She will never be his equal, and she has no idea what it means to be truly appreciated and happy in a relationship. And he will continue to either ignore her or parent her - obviously taking the dominant position. I can't imagine their home life, if this is how they treat each other in public.
It makes me really appreciate and be truly thankful for my relationship with Chris - where people come up to us all the time and ask, "when the wedding?" because when we're together, we both glow. Everything, even grocery shopping, is turned into a huge adventure with him. Our random errands and outings are spent laughing, complimenting, and goofing around. We have only gotten into one "disagreement" in over 3 months, and that was completely my fault - I was running on zero sleep, stressed out from class and work, and exhausted to the point where I started crying in Trader Joe's - and Chris was amazing about it. When I snapped at him for absolutely no reason, he walked silently next to me and let me cool off....and of course I apologized half a block later and the next moment we were completely fine. When we got home, he made me go take a nap.
I just hope that all people in the world can find a relationship that is even half as good as mine...it's worth the wait, and I just wish people would see that it's not worth 'having someone" just to have someone, that they have to find the right some one. Not someone they can live with, someone they can't live without.
I could honestly talk about how awesome a good relationship can be all day...but I have to go work now!
love love love,
me
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