First impressions and fracturing furniture
How many times have we been told ‘You only get one chance to make a first impression.’
I’ve always maintained that the motto is not helpful advice because it just makes you that much more nervous when you’re meeting a potential boss or the mother of your girlfriend for the first time.
I recently found myself in the latter situation when Wyndi and I traveled to Borger, Texas in the panhandle.
My nervousness in making a good impression came and went because Wyndi’s mother didn’t treat me as a stranger.
I took for granted that Wyndi has likely talked about me often with her family and they already had taken a liking to me because I try my best to always treat her right.
I see this exact same thing with my family and friends who have met her a few times, but ask about her often based on how happy she makes me.
I was having trouble reading Wyndi’s mom until she started leaning in for a hug when saying good night. (I also was told that I got positive marks for volunteering to help with dishes and cleaning the kitchen.)
So I was feeling good about the visit until Wyndi and I ended up crashing onto the concrete.
Wyndi’s mom has been a florist for several decades now, and it shows in her impressive backyard which is filled by a tree she planted herself as well as dozens of potted plants that stretch out in every direction.
Look at the picture at the right. That is a backyard in west Texas!
With all that time invested in the backyard, their house has a lot of seating in the backyard to just enjoy it.
While Wyndi and I were hanging out in the backyard, I decided to cuddle next to her on the loveseat glider.
As soon as my weight came down, I felt something snap and the loveseat dropped on its right side, knocking a wellloved plant over and shattering the pot.
My confidence in the visit was shaken in an embarrassing incident which highlighted that I was both clumsy and overweight.
I apologized profusely as I swept up the dirt while Wyndi fetched another pot to save the unearthed plant.
Wyndi’s mom assured that the glider had already been broken once, and it was fine.
We were back in the backyard a couple of hours later and I was sitting in a chair that had been moved to the glider’s original location.
Wyndi came out with a drink and refused my seat instead opting for a padded footstool by me.
She sat on the front end, accidentally flinging the back up into the same plant we had knocked over. She spilled onto the concrete.
As I jumped up, the plant with its loose soil toppled onto Wyndi’s head spilling dirt onto her face and hair for several seconds before I could get to her.
Wyndi and her family thought it was hilarious but I had to make sure she was okay before I could start to see the humor in it.
Even with our attempts to kill one of her plants and the property damage, I’ve heard that I got a glowing report from Wyndi’s family.
That might be because first impressions start long before a handshake when it comes to someone meeting family.
The family and friends take note of how someone talks about their significant other and how they’re doing once a relationship begins.
My friend that we visited prior to Wyndi’s family remarked that ‘you get to a certain age and you just want the people you love to be happy.’
I’m sure that the people who care about someone can see others who also want the best for them.
Paul Gaudette is the managing editor at the Dublin Citizen and can be reached at 445-2515 and publisher@dublincitizen.com.