Apples to Apples

My buddy Tuseef once told me “when it comes to women, you are an apple at the top of the tree: most guys go for the apples at the bottom of the tree cuz they’re easier all around, but the apples at the top are the best and whoever makes it to the top of the tree to find you will be worth waiting for.” I appreciate the analogy Tuseef, but at (nearly) 28 years old I’m beginning to wonder if any man is even capable of climbing the damn tree! Heck, I had mastered climbing my neighbor’s tree by the time I was 5 years old! And I’m a GIRL!

Come to think of it, the neighbor boy whose yard the tree was in asked me to marry him once. He was probably 6 and I was 8, and we were inseparable: riding our bmx bikes around Borah Elementary, tormenting our little brothers, finding out what each other’s parents were making for dinner before deciding whose house we’d talk our parents into letting us eat at that evening. And climbing that perfect tree in his front yard gave us the freedom to reign in our own mischievous world, just him and me. Then one day the neighbor boy moved away and I found myself alone in the tree. 20 years later I continue to explore on my own, but my eyes are always scanning the horizon awaiting the return of an adventure buddy with whom to take on the world with.

The past year in Denver has produced less than desirable results despite Denver having the highest rate of young singles in my age bracket. I’ve had my fair share of dates, though the most eventful ones occurred during my travels to Europe and Mexico, resulting in a 2nd marriage proposal from an architect I was dating in Oaxaca this past August. To be honest, I considered the proposal for a hot minute in part for the story I could tell, but ultimately the girlfriends I was traveling with talked me to my senses. You see, while the architect could make houses out of trees, he wasn’t fit to climb the tree.

Just as I had reconciled within myself that I may never find a man to keep up with my restless spirit, as I cannot even fathom what that man would BE like, I met someone. I had just completed my graduate studies with the University of Denver this past November when I received a Facebook “friend” request from an acquaintance in years past. He was a member of the gym I used to work at, who would spend countless hours running on the treadmill…for FUN. Our conversations revolved around me telling him he should sign up for the Coeur d’Alene IRONMAN triathlon, and him telling me that I was crazy. Well, two years later, he finally signed up for IRONMAN and found me on Facebook to tell me so. One thing led to another and this past month while home on holiday in Coeur d’alene, we became fast friends: Hiking mountains, training for his IRONMAN 2011 together, making roadtrips to Spokane for Indian food… but what struck me most was the depth of conversation, as we could talk for days without running out of things to say! I have since returned to Denver for work, but this simple friendship remains testimony that there ARE quality men in this world who just might be able to climb the tree and keep up with me one of these days. A 2 ½ year Peace Corps commitment looms in the summer ahead: it’s a commitment I would have loved to do with a life partner, but seeing as I have yet to meet him, I can’t wait forever. And so I enter into 2011, albeit a little restless, but once again willing to continue exploring the world on my own. (I wonder whatever happened to the neighbor boy?)

Blessings to you all this New Year!
Hana T.