In Which My Father May Loose His Tongue, Which Has Heretofore Been Bitten.

If you live in Utah, you are undoubtedly aware of a phenomenon which occurs about six to eight times during the school year. I don't know when it began, and I don't know why. All I know is that whenever there's a school dance, people go absolutely bananas. When you ask someone to a dance, it is considered quite unorthodox to simply call them on the phone and ask them. It's imperative that you spend a minimum of $10, and ask them in a way that rhymes and makes it difficult to find out who the asker was. I won't spend a lot of time on this, because every blogger in Utah has at least one post that deals cynically with the traditions and customs of High School dances. I will say that I don't mind it, and I actually think it's fun and exciting, even if it requires a little more work. My dad does not share my opinion. He posted not very long ago a rant about the topic, in which he praised his own capacity for tolerance. He counts himself magnanimous because he hasn't said anything to me about it, and blogging about it doesn't count (apparently). He has indeed raised the biting of his tongue to an artform.
My Friday night afforded an opportunity for my dear father to raise his eyebrows in pleased surprise at the situation. I was asked to the upcoming Valentine's Dance. The asker was a boy I know from work, whom I am quite thrilled to be accompanying. We got together after work to have a movie night with my friends on Friday. When I dropped him off at his house, we chatted for a few minutes before he looked me in the eye said, "Because I'm so terrible at these things, I'm just gonna come right out and say it...Dani, will you please go to Valentine's with me?" Of course I beamed and replied that I would love to, he gave me a big hug and we were back to chatting about Horton Hears a Who and how we both can recite random movie lines accurately.
He spent no money, very little time, and less stress than asking to a dance usually causes. Some would count this lazy and rude, but I loved it! It was organic and sweet, and it also means that I don't need to answer in a way that will cause me stress.
My dad has declared that he will never, ever approve of the boys I date. But does Sam's refusal to conform to the asking standards of the rest of Utah have a positive effect? Is he an exception to that rule because he swam against the current and asked me in person? Either way, I'm excited. Valentine's Day is going to rock.