The Things Men Have to Do...

So look, I know we have all been in this position and it's not really anything new, or anything that you haven't heard before. If you have been in a relationship you know that you have to inevitably change certain habits or ways of doing things to make the significant other happy. My current relationship with my Lovely Girlfriend is no exception. But as I was shopping in Bi-Lo today for a few groceries, I think it finally hit home just how much a woman can influence your buying habits.

First, let's go back to yesterday. We are in Walmart together, and I mention that I need to pick up some deodorant. No sweat, huh?... Ok, sorry, I know that was just bad. Anyway. I go straight to my usual antiperspirant/deodorant. As I'm grabbing it off the shelf, the critique begins. Now understand, I'm alright with some constructive criticism. If she doesn't like a certain smell, I don't care to change. She is a person that is very aware of things in the news, and proceeded to remind me of how certain deodorants contain aluminum, which has been proven to cause breast cancer. Don't laugh, I had a great uncle that died of breast cancer. With that information, I successfully found a stick that does not contain aluminum (FYI: apparently it's the combo of antiperspirant/deodorant that contains aluminum). Of course, this was not until after a Soddy-Daisy NASCAR tshirt/jort wearin', mullet sportin' red laughed at me for her suggesting I try a stick that smells like "lavender". No harm though.

Back to today. I'm shopping for a few groceries, browsing through the produce section trying to find any fruits or vegetables I might actually consume. Whoa. That's not something I used to do. I turn the corner to find a freezer bunker full of packaged chicken. It was then that I finally caught myself, as I looked at a bag of frozen grilled chicken patties, thinking how many preservatives each piece of meat contained... "Dude, she's changed you." What I would have normally considered to be a fine microwavable meal, I pass up, searching for something a bit more natural that I don't have to nuke (something else she doesn't like to do).

Like I said, nothing earth-shattering here. And don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all. It's nice to have somebody that is looking for ways to live a little healthier and will influence you to do the same. Lord knows most of us guys wouldn't do it on our own. It's a change for the better.

Now, excuse me while I go to my 3:15 hair appointment, something I avoided like the plague until about eight months ago when we started dating.