We took the ferry today.
But first, it was one of those unfortunate days that begins with a marital spat -- a fight over a forgotten cell phone.
I was mad at Ben because he had taken the time to check that my phone was charged but then just left it in the purse I wasn't bringing. My fully irrational rationale for being angry was that if he's going to do something nice for me, he might as well do it all the way.
Of course, I was just mad at myself for being stupid and forgetting my own damn phone.
But, really, why beat yourself up if there is someone else to take the fall?
Ben, in turn, was mad at me for getting mad at him.
"I'm not your mother, Mena."
And then, everything escalates:
Me: We're not going to make the ferry.
Ben: Let's just see.
Me: If you speed and we die, we're certainly not going to make it.
Ben: Oh, be quiet. I'm only going 70.
Me: But this car can't handle 70!
Ben: Maybe if we took the new car like I wanted, we would be able to drive at a decent speed.
Me: Are you going to start that again?
Note: We have driven the new car to San Francisco. I was just uncomfortable leaving it in the ferry parking lot for an entire day.
Despite my Cassandra'ing, we did make the ferry. And as a result of Ben being right, I laid on a mighty dose of the silent treatment.
Sitting in my seat, staring out the window, I listened to a young woman trying to make small talk to the passenger to her right.
Small talk girl: I like your tennis shoes.
Other woman: Oh, thank you.
S.T.G: They look comfortable. More comfortable than mine.
O.W.: Yes, they are. Comfortable, I mean.
S.T.G: Mine aren't comfortable at all.
O.W: Oh, really?
A few minutes of silence pass.
S.T.G: I'm from New Mexico.
O.W: Where exactly?
S.T.G: Albuquerque. My cousin lives in the hottest part of the state. And, mark my words, it's hot there. And then I come here and it's totally foggy. I'm not quite sure how any one can live here. It's really quite strange, the weather, that is. My parents live in San Francisco. My friends and I are out here visiting them. You know the other day, my mom went shopping and didn't come home with anything for herself. In fact, and I don't think I should be saying this, but she spent all her money on me. She spent $177.00 on me. She bought me three sundresses and two pairs of shoes. But the sundresses are just daaaarrrling. And, I'll get tons of use out of them in New Mexico. You want to know something funny? A couple years ago -- in New Mexico -- all my hair just fell out. Isn't that odd? I had to wear a wig for I don't know how long. It was so strange. And, then, my friend's hair fell out. So odd. Mark my words, there are certainly a lot of sailboats out today. And there's a cruise ship. Have you ever been on a cruise ship? No? My grandparent's took a cruise. Oh, and my Aunt and Uncle, they have a yacht. I've been on it a few times. It's quite nice. Oh, and my older sister...
As the other woman looked for a reason to leave the cabin, the small talk girl continued at a frenetic pace. And as I subtly banged my head on my seat's headrest, I continued to listen to the girl, who, in turn, reminded me of how much I can't stand making my own small talk.
I'm horribly inept.
But, Ben's even worse. It's a fact more than an insult.
And that is why, during the entire length of the angry ferry ride, I was secretly wishing that small talk girl would move onto Ben.
One of these days, I've got to get that black heart of mine fixed.
