i’m a single saudi female, and yes, in a few years, the first number of my two-digit age bracket will begin with the number three.
my mother often comments that our pet cat is likely to be the only “baby” in the house. she would then cradle the cat gently and let out a loud sigh, sneaking a peak at me. i would shrug and she would, too, and the poor kitty would then run away.
lucky cat!
i grew up in a coastal city with my family in saudi arabia, and shortly after high school graduation, packed two suitcases with all my hopes and fears and moved to a large city in america. during my seven year stay abroad, i learned how to drive, graduated university with a double-major and got my first “real” job. of course, there were lots of long-distance calls to my family!
i then returned to my childhood home and the social circus began. it seemed that every other weekend was dedicated to engagement parties, bridal showers, wedding ceremonies, baby showers, and many other such-themed events. i became an expert at spending my modest paycheck to purchasing gifts with blue or pink colored teddy bears on the wrapping paper. i even perfected the art of graciously smiling as everyone discussed what their husbands/babies did that day. (note to married women out there, nobody really cares what your husband ate for lunch, sorry to burst your invisible bubble!)
i would feel pressured to contribute to the conversation so i’d jokingly add, “did i tell you that our cat tried to jump from the stairs again?!”
one day i realized, i was pretty much one of the only ones from my core childhood friends who was not yet married. the strange part was, i didn’t really want to belong in that circle just yet. i wasn’t ready to slave over an oven for a guy or hold a mini version of myself.
don’t get me wrong, i DO want to get married at some point in the near future (as in, maybe in another two years!) but i don’t feel as though that time is NOW.
i guess i DO sound like an ideal potential candidate for marriage. i mean, one of the most annoying girls from high school got married almost instantly, and she is still married; so i guess there would/should be someone for me!
hold on, is there REALLY an ideal candidate for me?!
why do we always tend to believe that we need to polish ourselves up in order to attract our perfect guy? why doesn’t he polish himself up for us?! well, if it’s true that we each have our “match,” then my ideal guy is a coward because he is too chicken to face me!
wait a minute, am i really an ideal potential candidate for anyone? allow me to self-reflect.
i grew up in a multi-language household, and inherited delicate, feminine features from my beautiful mama. i am active in the community with tons of passions, yet one of my favorite things to do is to quietly browse a library and read for hours. (although i enjoy my alone-time and might be far too selfish to share “everything” with just one other person. oh, that’s not a good thing to add to that paragraph?! hmmm…oh, well, at least i’m honest!)
i am of average height for a girl (although heels can always help!) and i can cook basic meals. i have been doing my own laundry since i was 13-years-old (by choice) and i can go shopping and buy nice things without blowing the budget. as a sister, i had to mother my younger siblings, and as a granddaughter, i had to also care for the aging members of my family. (i also don’t feel the urge to weep or scream each time i recall a male member of society, and i’m quite fond of smiling. what?! it sounds positive! i would marry me!)
as for the guy, i don’t feel as though i have unrealistic expectations for a potential candidate. the guy pretty much has to NOT be any of the following: taken (married/in a relationship, gay), dead or not even real (the members of the last label are my favorite). that pretty much filters-up most of the male population! oh, and our age difference can’t be larger than a few years, and he has to be educated and have goals and dreams. OK, i lied, i DO have expectations, but i’m willing to compromise if he is willing to unveil himself.
sorry, mom, you’ll have to wait. don’t blame me though, blame my perfect guy who is still in hiding. (come out, you coward! yes, i’m talking to you! OK, not really, i don’t even know if you exist, but if you did, you’d come out now!)
it seems the only male who will receive my kisses at this time is my little kitty.
ahh, he just ran away again!
typical man.
By: Jasmine












