This past week I did the thing most college students have nightmares about, I drunk texted my dad. It was just like any other Tuesday night at University of Washington, the kind that sneak up on you and bite you in the ass. I was having fun with my gal pals dancing obnoxiously in the corner laughing at each other. We did our normal rounds and I found out that the guys (yes, there are several) that I happen to think are slightly above average humans were not out this particular night. My thought process went something like this: dang, that is lame (perhaps with a few more expletives included). That meant no fun flirtatious wit-filled encounters for that evening but that is okay. I am a strong independent woman who does not need great conversation with an attractive dude to make it a great day.
Now, I am not quite sure when it happened; when I went from being happy-go-lucky dancing with my friends to annoyed at the entire male gender. For some reason, I felt the need to take it out on someone. That was when I texted my dad. The message to him read, “You and ____ (insert name of phenomenal ex boyfriend) set the bar way too high for guys, it is almost unfair.” I was not really expecting a response because, of course, I sent the message in the middle of the night. However, plot twist, I forgot my dad was on a business trip in India. So what to me was the middle of the night, for my dad was just about lunch time with some customers. Good thing he has a sense of humor. He shot back a quick text that consisted of the cool sunglasses emoji and a thumbs up, because as a dad this is the best problem you want your daughter to have. She knows how she deserves to be treated by the men in her life and you as a dad helped shape that belief. Normally, I would be fully appreciative but drunk me was not having it. Unfortunately, in this case, that response did not cure my mad so I replied, “Yeah, yeah whatever I am pissed about it.”
Then one of those unicorn moments happened, the kind where that you just sit there slightly awestruck and appreciate it to its fullest. My dad dropped great life advice on me saying, “You’ll find the right one – when you least expect it.”
I think it is so cute when dads give advice because it is rare but always on point. Usually it is the moms that girls run to for boy advice but in this moment my dad was the only one who could tell me that everything would be okay that I would actually believe. I appreciated it but my sassy self could not help but respond, “Oh goodie, I love surprises!”
So from now on, I am not looking. I will just be living my life and whatever happens, happens. Thanks daddio! I promise I will not make a habit of drunk texting you.
