A picture from the deck of the Mighty Mo
Yesterday, I went with Isiah to the Army Ball. A little backstory… On the first day of Chem lab, he asked me if I’d go with him. Turns out he had to find a date by the end of the day and submit his form, and he’d only found out that weekend that he needed to find a date. I was super flattered that he asked me. But in the time leading up to it, I started to dread the event for a number of reasons– mostly due to my own dysfunction.
By the time the event was near, I was pretty stressed out at the very thought of it. There were three main things stressing me out:
1) A Gown. I had to buy a gown. Not only did that cost money, but I always feel self-conscious in dresses. I have a very poor body image, despite the fact I am about as thin as I was in high school. Also, I have a tattoo over my heart, which shows in cleavage-revealing clothing. I got the tattoo for my father, so it is highly personal for me and remains covered much of the time…
2) My makeup. On a daily basis, I wear Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm, and some eye shadow. I never learned how to apply makeup. Macy’s salon told me it would be $50 starting for a makeup session.
3) My hair. I don’t know how to style hair. My mom, was a beautiful cosmetologist woman, who raised two tomboy daughters. As a result of my refusal to be girly growing up, and having many technical jobs in male dominated fields, I strayed away from my femininity. I had no freaking idea how to do my freaking hair. Macy’s salon also quoted an additional $50 starting for hair styling.
Problem #1 was solved in a shopping trip to Macy’s. I got a black gown, which showed almost my entire chest tattoo (rare rare rare for me), but I liked the gown, and think I can always wear it to another event. I’d lost weight between the time I purchased it and the event itself, so I panicked a little yesterday, when I put it on and realized it was roomier than before, and showing more of my chest than I was comfortable with. But, I do like the dress. No cleavage mishaps at the event itself, AND, I got it on clearance! Win-win.
Problems #2 and #3 were solved in the form of my awesome sister and Karma’s babysitter, Marge. Marge did my hair and makeup for FREE! wow. She apparently enjoys doing it, and never charges. I tried giving her money at the end, and she refused to take it. She put all my hair up and curled it, and never in my life have I ever had someone do my hair and makeup before. Men are lucky… they don’t have to go through as many gyrations as women. I sat in that chair for 2 hours getting my hair and makeup done. Hoo boy. Marge’s work was pretty awesome though. I didn’t look like me, and that was the point. Yay! It was kinda fun, actually.
I liked what Marge did with my eyes.
Isiah was a pretty cool dude. He still had his dress green uniform since he’d been waiting for his dress blues for a few years. But his uniform was the best one there, imo. I think the dress blues are kinda tacky and look like band uniforms. The greens are more classic. And, he was the handsomest guy I saw all night. He’s twenty-three though, so I don’t think of him romantically, but he’s cute, smart, and a really nice person. He’s interested in pursuing nutrition and kinesiology… which is related to my major in dietetics. So, we had a LOT to talk about. He was really cool, and I didn’t feel like I was talking to a younger person. Just a person, and I’m glad for that.
The ball took place on Ford Island, alongside the Mighty Mo, (U.S.S. Missouri), and it was an impressive event. We were allowed to go up on the deck of the ship and walk around, and I was the only person who ordered the vegetarian dinner (which was pretty good)! Everyone seemed to think I was overall weird for ordering it, but I enjoyed it. Isiah had me try his steak and fish, and I was even more glad I got the vegetarian dish in truth. lol!
We left early, and went to Aloha Crepes in Waimalu to get snowflake. OK – my first time trying that. It’s hard to say no to Isiah’s enthusiasm for food, so I followed his recommendation and got a honeydew / green tea combo, with yogurt pops and condensed milk. He is always thinking about flavor combinations. He actually recommended lychee pops, but I switched it to yogurt. He got himself Pinacolada and Lychee with condensed milk and lychee pops. It was pretty cool. We ate it in his car, and it got so cold we had to pause from eating. lol! He then took me home, and we sat and talked a while before I went into my sister’s house. Overall, a pretty great time. He’s honestly a good guy, from what I could tell. I was highly impressed that he always tried to make sure to pull out my chair and push it in when I sat, or open and close the car door for me… etc.
It was kinda amazing to have a guy pay for everything, and do all that chivalrous stuff for me. I offered to help pay, and he told me no. It was nice to have someone treat me like a lady… even if I’m old enough to be his… aunty.
Thank you, Isiah. I had a great time.