Making our way out the door down to my car I ask Nick, "Do you want to drive?""Sure," he says holding out his hand for my keys.
His eyes get wide as he says, "Holy shit, what do all of these keys belong to?" as I hand him my key chain of about 15 keys.
I furled my eyebrows, wrinkled my nose and stopped dead in my tracks, "Heh. I have no idea." And as we drove I stared at that key chain wondering how I accumulated so many keys without knowing where a single one belonged or how it got there.
How many times do we accumulate emotional baggage from previous relationships and carry it around with us like a monkey on our backs? And years and years go by when one day it can no longer go unnoticed but you can only scratch your head and wonder where it all came from. That is the moment of revelation I had when Nick inquired about my accumulation of keys, always being carried around with me without giving it a second thought. Yet it became a part of me and a burden I chose to carry even though I no longer needed to, for whatever those keys belonged to...the old houses, cars and locks, they were long gone.
And each time Nick took those keys, whether it was to drive or open the house, he would promptly hand them back to me not wanting to hold onto the weight they placed in his pocket. Essentially saying, I want no part of this baggage in your life.
So on Nick's birthday I created a clue-like scavenger hunt for him to find his birthday present. Each clue was a question about "1st's" in our relationship..."What you cooked on our first date," "Where we sat the first time you kissed me..." and at the end he found a watch. After his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree I handed him my keys to drive to dinner. He looked at me, smirked and nodded as the key chain now only held 3 keys.
1sts--the beginning of something amazing
watch--we have nothing but time
3 keys--I have lifted the weight of my emotional baggage off my shoulders to start fresh
And you know what? That night, once we arrived at the restaurant, he placed the keys in his pocket and has done so every time since.
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16 comments:
Awe. I really like this post! Yes, it is so crazy how much baggage we can accumulate without even realizing it. You have inspired me to do some spring cleaning!
Awwww sweet story.
I love how he only nodded with acknowledgment.
Great post!
Love this. Heartwarming.
*Plentymorefishoutofwater - One Man's Dating Diary*
i love this post! from how having so many keys led you to think of things more profound. to the very cute way you gave him his present. and the meaning behind it all.
Awwww....good for you.
Wow, I want to do this for my boyfriend...good idea! I actually have 3 separate rings of keychains that I carry around. Need to shed as well.
Simply lovely.
http://adatingconfessional.blogspot.com
I think about the stuff in my huge purse as symbolic as the baggage I carry around. Maybe I should clean that out too? Great post and sounds like a wonderful guy!
All I can say after reading this blog is that, You're one amazing girlfriend, that knows how to be make every minute count.
My sister has an obsession with proper gender roles, even if they're just for show or skin-deep. It's interesting that you represent that same thing when you mentioned him holding onto your keys--it feels good when he has them. Is this something you've thought or written about?
Well... 3 keys.. Home, car and? Don't leave us hanging.
Oh boy, guilty party here - I've hung on to both emotional baggage and random keys for way too long (including a key to an ex's house)! Great connection there!
hahaha, thats alot of keys. i can really relate to the emotional baggage problem. Its unfortunate to have to deal with it when you meet someone so much better than the previous person. Well, awesomeness validated ;)
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This is so sweet and not what I expected. Great post very very true about emotional baggage.
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Posting a comment only validates my awesomeness. Thanks for the contribution to my big ego. ;)