Am I Actually On The Hook?

I just watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother because, well, it's 8:45 on a Saturday night, and, no, of course I don't have anything better to do. The episode was about how Ted had been hooked by guest star, Carrie Underwood. The term 'hook' apparently refers to a situation in which the 'hook-ee' greatly wants a relationship with the 'hook-er'. The 'hook-er', in turn, 'hooks' the 'hook-ee' by implying that, while a current romantic relationship is out the question, a future romantic relationship is possible, even likely.


I know I've been hooked at least once, and maybe I'm still on that hook (you know who you are...I don't think you read this...so I'll say chicken soup, ice cream, and cake...if you read this, you'll know who you are and anyone that knows you will likely know I'm talking about you). I have been and likely am on more hooks, I'm sure. I give away too many baked goods, buy too many rounds, send too many e-cards, and am a date to too many weddings to not currently be completely hooked by a handful of hook-ers. In most of these cases, I understand that I may not have been hooked due to the angler's skill, but rather due to my nearly masochistic insistence on scarfing the lure.

The thing is: life on the hook is unfortunately satisfying.

I reckon I probably enjoy being on the hook more than being in a real, hook-free, relationship. That element of anxious anticipation that the hook provides is sort of like the clear plastic cover on the screen of a new i-pod. You know it would be better to remove the plastic cover, but the risk involved is just too great. In hopping off the hook, the hook-ee has to either: (1) confront the hook-er once and for all, no means no, and yes means awesome, albeit nearly absolutely unlikely, or (2) slip away, accepting permanent rejection. So, what's the solution? Do I stop trying to meet the demands of all the hook-ers in my life? No. Of course not. After all, we're just not together right now. We might start something great...later...maybe.

Aw, man.