Collegiate Times

hesaidsummer_inside

SHE SAID:

My current relationship is like I'm dating Batman.

It's not that he has lots of gadgets, or a butler, or an inexhaustible hoard of money. (He does have a two-seater car, but it's less of a technological marvel and more like a piece of crap.) He's not amazingly flexible, nor does he wear a suit with muscles built into the design. Simply, I never see him during the day.

It's fall now, and we are way too stressed and busy to see each other. There's that obligatory kiss in the morning, where one party has morning nast-breath, and then the frazzled greetings at night where afterwards we bond by complaining about our days. Like two young, star-crossed lovers, we only see each other while shrouded in darkness.

This is pretty sad, considering that we live together.

During the summer, things were different. Tom and I could look at each other's cheesy smiles in the daylight. We took weekend vacations to Hilton Head, S.C., regularly. For hours, we would chum the waters along my dad's boat - OK, chum isn't romantic, but we had the time to wait for the sharks to bite. (We didn't even catch any crabs.) We would illicitly swim at night in neighborhood pools and tool around with the top off in his "tin can," which is secret code for his Batmobile.

This is the nature of summer love. Easy. But the sensuous, cinematic, long days of summer give way to hair-pulling, migraine-inducing, manic days where you barely have time to eat, let alone be "twitterpated." In this onslaught, it's a miracle that some summer relationships still exist into the autumn. Most will fizzle away and leave you with a bittersweet feeling, but the good ones will linger.

Why the "natural selection" of relationships? If you're anything like me, little nuisances in the fall semester drives you to the edge of insanity:

Having to pay $75 for a paperback textbook of stuff you'll never need again in your life is expected.

Having two tests and three papers due in the same week leads you to the epiphany that maybe sleep just isn't the best lifestyle choice.

Being stuck in class beside that pale, sickly girl that you're convinced has kennel cough, and knowing your insurance probably won't cover that particular affliction.

These and other environmental stressors deem that only the strong survive, and that includes relationships.

If your summer love does last into fall, you're lucky. Although now your days with your beau aren't spent admiring their body at the beach, there is something positive about autumn love. Your autumn lover can be your sanctuary.

Yes, you're wearing a turtleneck instead of a tank top, but the awkward fabric that is slowly suffocating you can't keep you from snuggling your sweetie. Since it's cooled off, you can go hiking and not embarrass yourself by almost sweating to death. Especially in Blacksburg, there's always something to do in the fall like movies, shows, festivals - If you can find the time to do these, that is.

Most importantly, you can de-stress in a fall love sanctuary. Love becomes less formal. It's no longer such a big deal if he realizes you have stretch marks and cellulite and aren't always perfect. Your beau can assure you that your neurons aren't melting under the pressure of the semester. He can make you feel like everything will be all right, that you will get everything done, and that yes, your boss should be cruelly fired, and you should get his job.

Or, your man-thing could toss you a beer when you get home from work and insist on simply watching TV and snuggling on the couch. (Don't doubt - Batman is a fan of Natural Ice and cuddle-time.)

Although summer is intimate with its bare body parts and sweltering heat, it's also easier because there's jack else to do. Most of those summer loves will dissipate as soon as fall semester starts driving you to the brink.

But the fall romances that last - they're solid, sweet, and they reveal a guy willing to put up with your neuroses. And that's why they're the best.

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