So, as a person builds (and breaks) more relationships during the course of life, it's only natural that some parts of those past relationships emerge in the present. It's the quirky stipulations that I find the most amusing. Before I met Nick, my romance ad could have read, "Must not play games." That is, computer games.

I must have made this little gem known up front because during our 17 hour conversation, I distinctly remember him promising, "I suck at games…so I never play." Major points for sucking, Nick!

Nick's ad could have read, "Must have quiet feet." I don't think that can be interpreted any other way. While he cannot stand shoes that make loud noises or people who drag their feet, the major offender is the flip-flop. In Nick's version of hell, I'm sure he'd be forced to listen to people walking in flop-flops all day and all night: incessant flip-flopping. That Lucifer is a crafty devil!

Of course, when I learned of this major deal-breaker, I was quick to tell him that I don't wear flip-flops because there's something undignified about having something shoved between your toes. Major points for me for being prissy.

Even though I never wear flip-flops, I have been more aware of the sound my feet make. I used to make a lot more of a CLAP! when I walked with heels—most of my mother's family seems to walk the same way with locked knees, long strides, heel-toe-heel-toe. Uncle Rick, who married into my mother's German family, used to call it our Hitler Walk. I've worked on it. Hopefully it's not so dictator-y anymore.

At work, I almost collide with this one woman every morning. She is coming out of her office as I am walking past in the hall, and she doesn't check her blind spot! I told her today that she needs a merge lane—she told me (after apologizing, again) that she usually hears when someone is coming, but that I must be a soft stepper.

Yes, I must be: it saves on marriage counseling fees. As long as he keeps sucking at games, I'll keep my feet subdued. It's only fair.