Switcharoo....

I admit it. I am a fan of the bachelor. I have watched every season, except the first one. I don't know why I like it so much. Is it because I truly think you can fall in love in 6 weeks time? Or is it because I love to watch caddy girls act like themselves with each other in a house they are forced to live in together and then act like completely different people around the man they are all trying to win over? Whatever the reason, I'm hooked. Some seasons have been boring. The girl he will choose is so blatantly obvious from day 1 that it isn't even fun to watch the other girls get sent home. Then there are other seasons that have my heart racing. Like the season that ended yesterday. There were actually 3 girls that I really thought had a shot. All 3 were left until the end. But the very end is where I wasn't sure what would happen. When Jason chose Melissa (yes, I will use their first names like I know them) I wasn't too surprised. He proposed at approximately 8:56 by my clock. Then at 9:04 on the "after the final rose" episode, he changed his mind. What?! Changed his mind? He broke up with the one he proposed to and asked the one he sent home for another chance at love. Curious. At first I was kind of angry at him. As were most of the women in the U. S. of A. Then I felt really sad for him. Sad that he was trying to go with his heart and was going to be severely punished for it because it happened on national television. It was really crumby that he had to wait 6 weeks to realize he'd chosen poorly. And probably even worse that now Molly must feel like she was really only 2nd best. Hmmm. Most people might think you can't really be in love with 2 people at the same time. But, I disagree. I was, once. When I met Shawn I had a guy who was serving a mission for our church that I was "waiting" for. In reality it meant he was working his tail off and I was dating everything I came in contact with. Shawn proposed to me 3 weeks before he returned. When he returned and I saw him all those old emotions and feelings came rushing back. I remember feeling so confused and stressed out about making the right decision. My mom was even more stressed. I remember as we took the invitations to the printers she said "Now, once these are sent that is it. No backing down." Ultimatums. I remember the moment that I knew my answer. It was actually after a really good conversation with the man I didn't choose. He probably left my house that night thinking that he had a shot with me. He couldn't have been more wrong. I knew in my heart and soul that Shawn was the one for me. It was still hard to break the news to the one I was letting go. But I just kept my eye on the prize. I have never once looked back. And let me tell you, Shawn and I had a hard first year of marriage. It just wasn't what either of us had expected. But I never once regretted my decision, or thought I'd chosen poorly. I never once considered running back to the one I'd let go to beg for another shot. I was given my answer when I needed it and I could not deny that. Shawn is so perfect for me in every way. I am better because of him. And I like to think he is better because of me. So, I feel bad for Jason Mesnick and all the women that now hate him. He just wasn't given enough of a chance to get his own true answer. In reality, you can't work on someone elses time schedule. But, I guess ABC doesn't care about time schedules. They just want viewers. Viewers they have a lot of. Eternal relationships? Not so much.