Looping the Hen

"So when do you grow up?"

I guess it is only fitting with my theory of balance that the person who said the sweetest thing to me recently also said the not-so-sweetest. Personally, I didn't think anyone was going to be able to top 'We can still be friends' for at least 6 months.

So my Match.com girl and I were out tonight, and our original plans were cancelled due to construction or solar flare or something. We ended up instead eating a great, simple meal at Cheeseburger Charlie's at Green Hills, with much dead animal flesh, curded cow milk and fried potato product. We then went to Davis Kidd for coffee and book-browsing. (Wow, that's about as good a date as I can think of, and I bet half my friends think so too!) So we wandered through the sci-fi and fantasy section, me showing her what I like, her showing me what she likes, and we park ourselves on the little couch across from the D&D books. (You all can see where this is going right?)

So I try to start explaining D&D to her, and how it's played and the like, and she stops, looks me in the eye, and says the title of this post to me.

To be honest, it took my brain a few seconds to interpret and recognize what exactly was said to me. *Blink, blink* I didn't realize that I could still be sensitive to things like this, and I could feel all of the old defense mechanisms kick in. (Those who have played D&D since the 80's know what I am talking about) Heck, AKBar makes fun of me all the time about it. However, I think it was one of those things that comes from soooooo far out of the blue it is like a bucket of ice water being poured on one's privates.

Those who know me know that games in general, and D&D specifically, are almost beyond hobbies and extend into the 'integral part of life' category. And I am as likely to give them up as I am to pick up a pack of Marlboro's on the way home from work. (*knock on wood*)

Yes, I know she didn't mean anything by it, and I know she certainly didn't intend to offend me. She is very sweet and makes me laugh regularly. But yes, it still hurt my feelings, because it doesn't just say something about me, but about many of my friends also, and about the way I choose to live my life.

Unless she cancels on me after this post, we're going out Thursday, and I should be chill by then.

I think next time I'll just ask her to make fun of my car or something.

For those ladies needing advice on how to relate with gamers (generally a very sensitive group), please refer to this post.