Endearing

Several months before we got married, my wife and I attended this weekend seminar for engaged couples (and couples seriously considering marriage). The goal was to help the couples prepare for married life. Not many realize this, but some couples become so busy preparing for their wedding that they don't pay much attention to preparing for their marriage.

It was an all-around awesome experience, but like any kind of seminar it had to start with the participants introducing themselves to the group.  I've always sort of hated this part because I'm not really a people person.  I'm not antisocial, but I'd like to avoid speaking to a crowd of strangers as much I as I could.

But of course we had to do it. And it was no simple introduction -- we were to come up the stage and tell the group what our partner's most endearing quality is.

Since we were seated on one of the middle rows, we had some time to think about what we were going to say. But that also meant that it would be harder to say something original, since the usual endearing qualities of a partner would have already been said by the ones who were called first.

So, I was going to say, "her most endearing quality is she's my best friend" until the guy in the couple right before us said the exact same thing, word for word. It hadn't occurred to me to prepare a plan B, so I had to think fast or else look like an idiot.

As we stepped up front a crazy idea hit me, and I went with it. Forcing down my fear of public speaking, I said with a smile, "Her most endearing quality is... I'm a dork and she puts up with me." The crowd laughed, the kind of laughter you hear in a sitcom. We laughed with them. I was thoroughly pleased with myself.

But then she said, still smiling, "Wait, wait! I didn't hear what you just said!"

There was a pause. I held up my microphone, opened my mouth. Hesitated. Blushed. Hesitated again.

And then I just decided to whisper it in her ear. "I said I'm a dork and you put up with me." And then she laughed, and the crowd was laughing with her.

And I was still blushing.