It’s been a long road to get to where we are now: moving, going to school, changing jobs. But Brad and I made the decisions together every step of the way. It’s interesting to me how easily people assume that we’re fulfilling his dreams, and I’m just tagging along.

Somebody that I was talking to the other day, someone who doesn’t know much about my situation, had heard a few of the details. She was told that I was leaving my job, moving to a new city, and going back to school, and that my boyfriend was moving and returning to school as well. Also, she was aware that I had moved to Jackson only a few years ago. Not much to work with, but that didn’t stop her from drawing any conclusions. In a conversation with her about my upcoming move, she said to me, “So tell me about this guy you keep following around everywhere.”

I was immediately offended. I couldn’t believe that she concluded from the few details she knew that I had been changing my life plans in order to follow my boyfriend around. I explained to her that first, I didn’t move to Jackson for Brad, but rather met him a few months after getting here. I also explained that I wasn’t following him to GR, and that in fact, we’re returning to my hometown where all of my family and friends live. Had she known all the facts, she may have even concluded that Brad was following me around, which of course he’s not, but geez lady!

So in case there’s any confusion, these were decisions made equally by us both. We feel very lucky that both of our goals can be accomplished in the same place, and that it worked out so well for us to do this together.

I think what annoys me is that this lady (and she’s not the only one) didn’t bother to find out any more about the situation before drawing her conclusion. She saw a young woman who is apparently in love and moving with her boyfriend. Obviously since she now has a man, she can’t possibly have ambitions of her own. Of course she must be following him around so he can be successful and provide for their future family while she prepares to have his babies. What else is there to conclude really?

Yes I’m bitter.