The Studio

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to fall for someone who was so wrong for you? Or so different from you? Or so not what you're looking for? What would it be like to date someone like that?

A month ago, I was in Houston, and one of my cousin's friends was visiting from out of town. For anonymity's sake, let's call him Henry. I had met Henry once before, on a previous visit to Houston. Between the two times that we met and hung out, we must have exchanged no more than 50 words. Still, I found myself developing a small crush on him.

Let me tell you about Henry...and why this tiny crush was so improbably and out of character, I nearly laugh out loud each time I think of it. So, Henry recently immigrated from Vietnam. He barely speaks an ounce of English. He's one of the quietest guys I have met, and when so many of your friends are engineers, that's saying quite a bit. He's also possibly among the nicest guys out there, so much so in fact that many people close to me have pointed out that I could probably "eat him alive". (I don't know how I feel about that description, btw, though I fully recognize its veracity.)

The most remarkable thing about entertaining this idea of me and Henry together is that Henry has no career to speak us, his future quite uncertain, his ambition I cannot ascertain. But maybe it's all these that make him different, almost refreshing in a novel and innocent kind of way. The things that Henry has going for him is his kindness. I see him with Nicholas and Anthony and the boys just absolutely adore him. He too seems very happy when he's watching the boys and genuinely cares about them. Another thing that sets him apart is that, unlike most Vietnamese men, he neither drinks nor smokes. And, I think the kicker is that he's rather domestic. I think he spent a few years in Vietnam working as a tailor, and on his recent visit to my cousin's place, he woke up early one morning, after Anthony's birthday party, and cleaned my cousin's entire kitchen and washed all the dishes -- all without being asked, and finished before either of his hosts had awaken. Remarkable.

It's experiences like these when I surprise myself. It makes you re-evaluate all the qualities you look for in a potential mate. I joked with my mother that I could probably be content being the bread-winner of the family if I married Henry and he would stay home, cooking, cleaning, and watching the kids. My aunt insists that such a marriage could never last because we could never go to the nice places that I love to frequent or hang out in the social circles that I'm accustomed to. I know that this arrangement is very unlikely to work, but it makes you wonder. What are the relationship deal breakers?

Hmmmm indeed.

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream