the freeway slowdance

Sometimes You Say the Wrong Thing...

So a couple days ago, Rachel, this cute chick comes in with her mom, and I say "And what's your mom's name?" and her mom interrupts and says "My name is Kim. I've come in a couple times, but you never remember my name." and on a spur of the moment, because I think I'm complimenting Rachel, I say "Well, you're not as cute as your daughter is." And then WHAM. All of a sudden I realize, holy shit, I just told Kim that she was not cute. And Rachel gets this look in her eyes like "You fucking just insulted my mom!" and to make up for it, I stammer out a compliment, right? "Um. Your uh. Your hair looks really good! Is it natural?" BAM. "IS IT FUCKING NATURAL" I asked. That's like asking a if chick "they're" real.

Yessirree, I will not be going out with Rachel, ever.

But then sometimes you say the right things. Krystle, who is 17, asked me today, "Do you think I'm too young to be engaged?" and without a second thought I said "Yes. Definitely."

and she turned and looked at me like "oh. so does everybody else."

and without missing a beat, I said "You know, I think everyone is too young to be married at 17. But if anyone your age knows what they're doing, is level-headed enough to figure out what they want, it's you. You know what you're doing. And if you love him, then it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. Because you know yourself better than anyone else does."

And she got a big smile on her face and said "Thanks Doug."

And I think that was the right thing to say.