My dad is one of the funniest people I know. He just has the best jokes. There are only two issues with his jokes (and they are big ones). First, he tells the same joke to the same people 5 times minimum. Second, he laughs hysterically at them before anyone else has a chance to.

Example: I cannot tell you how many times he has pointed to a road sign with the word “dip” on it and said, “Look, Chrissie! You are famous!” (Cue his excessive laughter until I finally decide that it’s kind of funny that he thinks it’s still funny after 47 times and I start laughing too.)

In addition to being hilarious, my dad is very wise. He has always had a traditional view on dating and marriage and is very protective of his kids, especially his three daughters. This is why Jacob decided to ask him if he could ask me to be his girlfriend. Not only did Jacob know that my dad would appreciate the gesture, but he also knew it would possibly give him a leg-up throughout the dating process. (Remember, he had dealt with this protective father before with the whole taking my sister to prom fiasco.)

So, halfway through our vacation in San Diego, he told my parents that he wanted to show them where he worked in Little Italy and then have a little “talk”. My mom, dad, and I headed from the beach house in Del Mar to Downtown San Diego to “talk” with my non-boyfriend. I had an idea of what he was planning, so the drive down was full of clammy hands and awkward non-silence (I don’t think my mom stopped talking the entire 32 minutes).

I kept running through different scenarios in my head and asking myself questions I would never be able to answer. Is he going to ask me to leave during “the talk”? What is he going to say? What if they say no? This is so weird. What 23 year old asks for a 19 year old’s hand in girlfriend-dom? Is that even a word? WHY ME????

Just as we turned right on Hawthorne and I was considering asking my parents to forget the whole thing, I saw him. He looked so cute in his gray jeans, striped shirt, and aviators. All of a sudden, I just knew it was going to be okay… that is, until I realized he was standing directly under…

A dip sign.

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