Posted on by shirindawna

wrong place at the right time.

i was recently on a picturesque trip with my family including my mother-in-law and one of my best friends flew out to meet us. this bestie was talking about an upcoming trip to nyc and i exclaimed “oh, i love nyc! i got engaged there” and then realized the company i was in and clarified to my mother-in-law that it wasn’t to her son. she responded “but it was just for a night, right?” confused, i asked her what she meant. she brought up the failed attempt by a former suitor to impulsively fly me out and woo me, that has since become a standing joke in my family (if you haven’t heard the story before, don’t worry, i’ll be putting it back up).

me: no, that was a different guy.

mother-in-law: oh, was it the guy who was messaging you last time i visited?

me: nooo, that was a different guy…

mother-in-law: oh. so, i guess i don’t know about who you’re talking about.

…and here we are.

Posted on by shirindawna

the lost years…

we have so much to cover. i will be bringing back the old entries…should i scrub the offensive stuff or not? i said some wild things, i stand by most of them…and also, i’m a person, i’ve changed, i’ve grown (not vertically).

it’s hard to believe this started 14 years ago, when i was in my 20s. it felt right to bring it back today, on my 43rd birthday. so much has happened and i’m a completely different me than the girl who first sat down at her laptop to write about love and boys, and share her thoughts with her friends (and a few strangers). and yet, i’m still sitting here writing about love…and boys (maybe a couple exclusively now). full circle, i suppose. it feels like me. it feels right.

if you are an ex, this is your warning to STOP READING now. i will be detailing your bad behavior and if you’ve gotten a pass till now, i hope you enjoyed your peace. (i can anticipate the messages coming and let’s save ourselves the time. the terrible thing you’re thinking of, yes – i will be mentioning it.)

let’s talk about the breakups.

let’s talk about the miscarriages.

let’s talk about the wedding.

let’s talk about cancer.

let’s talk about how i’ve never met a bridge i didn’t want to burn.

let’s talk about the boy.

let’s talk about his baba.

let’s talk about my baba.

let’s talk about how i finally get to do what i’ve always wanted.

Posted on by shirindawna

it’s about a boy.

it’s about a boy (isn’t it always?).

it’s about how it’s different this time (how many times have i claimed that?).

it’s about unconditional love.

it’s about how he broke my heart wide open.

it’s about wishing my dad could’ve met him.

it’s about how i can’t get enough of him.

it’s about how he murmurs “i love you” while he’s sleeping.

it’s about how the cracks in my heart started to mend.

it’s about the way he scrunches his nose.

it’s about understanding what my baba was talking about.

it’s about how he tells me his heart is full of me.

it’s about how it almost didn’t happen.

it’s about persistence.

it’s about wishing on dandelions.

it’s about hummingbirds.

it’s about trucks.

it’s about books.

it’s about how he really knows me.

it’s about laughter.

it’s about tears.

it’s about what really matters.

it’s about healing.

it’s about how he changed me.

it’s about how words fail.

it’s about writing again (though i never stopped).

it’s about time.

Posted on by shirindawna

oh boy.

i’m single again.

which means i’m dating. and guys are weird. and also amazing. and strange. and dreamy.

it’s no secret that i’m hoping to find my mr. forever. and if the recent boys are any indication of what’s out there, i’m simultaneously nervous and excited. i’ve been lukewarm about the whole dating thing recently…i like being single because it lets me focus on my favorite thing, me.

my absolute favorite thing about dating (besides the possibility of love) are the stories. every date ends in a fabulous story that i get to share with my best friends. (and you)

for example, there was one boy whose calls i avoided for over a year (if this sounds like it might be you. please stop reading. seriously. stop.) and then one day i decided maybe i wrote him off too quickly…so, we went out. (did i mention he lives over an hour away and drove down here just to take me out? i called it sweet, my brother called it desperate) regardless, it was a lovely time. he was considerate, nice, made corny jokes, opened my door for me, let me hide behind him during the scary parts of the haunted house, and didn’t try once to smooch me (which would have totally scared me off, i’m a little skiddish). so, i went out with him again. and (here’s where it gets good) he downloaded every single P!nk album ever made because he knew she’s my favorite. umm…trying too hard? now, i’m a big big fan of music…and i’ve been won over more than once by a mix tape, but this was too much. and then it got worse. he turned out to be one of those people that agrees with everything you say…doesn’t really form his own opinions. i was annoyed within 10 minutes. i found him completely obnoxious. which is unfortunate because he genuinely is a nice guy. boring. but nice. but i’m looking for a hell of a lot more than just ‘nice’.

then, there’s the dreamboat that i met over 6 months ago. i was involved at the time, so nothing happened. (i’m a good girlfriend) but we reconnected (thank you, facebook!) and he’s the perfect blend of sweetheart and asshole. intelligent, attractive, funny, and smooches like a dream. it’s rare for me to click with someone, so when i do – i don’t take it lightly. i’m not doodling his name in my journal yet, but he’s been taking up a lot of real estate in my head recently. and i rather like it.

it’s refreshing to know that there are still boys out there who can make you swoon and make you think. i like being challenged and i love me a smart boy (especially when he’s toned, tan, fit, and ready). i’m thankful that in the course of a week i’ve gone from lukewarm to hot for someone.

and grateful that when it comes to love (or like), i’m always optimistic.