For years, I have said to my friends:

“I will marry the first man who will rollerblade with me.”

For the most part, I’m joking. It’s just been my way to express how much I love rollerblading, and it’s “Perfect Man” criteria I’ve kidded about.

I have been an avid rollerblader since 9th grade. (Yes, I know. Feel free to laugh out loud.) I would “sneak” on my Dolphin Sister, Larisa’s, bus home from school. Remember the days where you couldn’t take another bus home unless you had a written permission slip? There actually is a story of me running and hiding in bushes from the bus driver who was questioning my stop at Larisa’s house instead of my own. I was that determined to rollerblade with her after school. The two of us would spend nearly every sunny day, rollerblading the Burke Gilman trail. On super hot days, we’d skate to docks on Lake Washington, take off our blades, and swim and sunbathe before skating back home. Since then, I’ve spent numerous days rollerblading during springs and summers in Seattle. I wore down those original rollerblades until the wheels were lopsided from wear and tear, and the brake had been missing for years. I finally replaced them last year—eight years later—with a brand new pair I found on Craigslist for $25. Now, I often rollerblade by myself around Greenlake or Larisa and I still go off on two- to three-hour rollerblade excursions. Rollerblading has become a lifeline for me.

In somewhat of a scheme between Larisa and myself, we convinced Baby Daddy that he needs to purchase rollerblades so the two of us could go with Larisa and her boyfriend. (I’ve been insanely jealous that she found a man who will blade with her.) He agreed, (!!) and yesterday we scowered Seattle, up and down, for a place that would sell men’s rollerblades. (They’re a bit obsolete. Strange.) After approximately six phone calls and four destinations, we found a pair he liked. As the cashier rang them up and the $175.79 price popped up on the screen, I saw Baby Daddy’s face reflect slight buyer’s remorse.

“This just means that I owe you $175 in rock climbing equipment for myself, right?”

After all, dating is about learning new things and trying hobbies that your significant other enjoys, right?

As for the marriage stuff, meh. But he had no idea how many points he scored by just being willing to buy blades and go with me because I love it.

I can’t wait for our first rotation around Greenlake tonight.

Currently Feeling: Up and down.
Currently Anticipating: Getting everything squared away at work.
Currently Listening To: Pandora.com; it’s genius!