How To Make Me Love You

If there was one thing that my mom would say about me it would be that I always root for the underdog. If you knew me in High School you would totally agree with that statement just by looking at the boyfriends I chose. True, I am a person that tries to see the potential in an individual, but I do not always root for the underdog. Especially now that I have gotten older, it takes a lot more to tug on my heartstrings than just being stifled or underprivileged in some way. Lately I have been thinking about what it takes to be regarded as someone I love. This is simply how it works.... you just have to have a funny little quirk. That's all it takes.

Living in Utah there are so many people that try to seem so perfect. They try to act perfect, dress perfect, decorate their homes perfect and accessorize just perfect (it's true, Mormon women have a thing for their jewelry). There are some wonderful things about living in Utah. Being LDS and living with so many that share the same religious beliefs is the biggest, but the constant bombardment of everyone trying to seem perfect gets so old! This is where finding the quirks in someone is fun. Here are a few examples: A white haired woman named Liz sat in an all women church meeting with me and many others. She was wearing her Sunday best just like everyone else when something caught my eye. She uncrossed her ankles and from across the aisle I could see a little rose tattoo just barely noticeable through her pantyhose. Any of you that know a little about Mormons would know that on the whole tattoos are discouraged in our religion. It was in that exact moment that I decided that I loved Liz. I had never shared a conversation with her but I loved her. She was not perfect and not trying to pretend she was.

Then there was Chelsea. She is a single mother to two boys. By all accounts she seems perfect. She is sweet, friendly and strives to be a good mom. It was when one of her young sons told everyone in Sunday school that his mom drinks "near beer" that I laughed like crazy and decided I loved Chelsea.

My last example is about Vanessa. She is new to our neighborhood and she shared with me the funniest thing that happened to her. She has a young 3 yr old son. During his primary class he told his teacher that he needed to use the restroom. While he ran off to the boys restroom the teacher promptly notified Vanessa that her son may need some help. By the time Vanessa reached the restroom her son had already gone in. She did not know what to do since he had gone in to the men's room. She poked her head in and discovered that only her son was in there so she went in. Her little three year old had already stripped off his pants, underwear, socks and shoes. She had no choice to stay in there with him until he was done. After he finished she quickly dressed him and opened the stall door. It was then that she realized that a man had come in and was using the urinal. She was mortified. As she told me the story I just laughed and asked, Well, did you just run out with your son." Her response became the reason I fell in love with Vanessa. " She said, "Well we hurried and washed our hands first and then ran out." A true mother after my own OCD heart. Who stays in the Men's restroom to wash their son's hands when a man is standing a few feet away using the urinal? Vanessa does and now she's on my love list.

There are a thousand different stories like this. If you are my friend then there is probably one about you too and you don't even have a clue what it could be, but if you are quirky then I love you!

*BTW, I did change all of the names of the people in my stories. Just in case they are trying to appear perfect!