Commitment and Casserole

“I just don’t think we’ll ever get married,” Kim said sticking a fork full of enchilada casserole in her mouth.

She has been dating Brian for five years now and they’ve talked about getting engaged for three of them.

“Lay off of him,” Kate said, “and he’ll do it when you least expect it. He isn’t going to pop the question when you keep nagging him about it. He wants it to be his idea and special, not something that you told him to do.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to get married,” said Holly, earning a ‘shut-up’ look from all of us. “Well, sorry, but he just doesn’t seem ready to me.”

“It has been FIVE freaking years!” Kim yelled, slamming down her plate. “How much time does he need to realize that we are meant to be together?”

“I agree with Kate,” I told her. “Brian’s a sincere guy and will want you to be surprised and impressed. He’s not just going to say ‘ok, fine, then let’s get married’ during one of your arguments about it. Just back off some, and then he’ll be more likely to do it.”

“Do you have any idea how hard that will be? I mean what if he just takes it as a sign that I don’t care anymore and forgets about it?”

“He won’t forget about it,” Kate rolled her eyes, “Goodness, it isn’t like he is entirely oblivious to your relationship status. I mean I am sure he realizes how long you two have been together and that you are the one for him. Maybe he is just waiting until he is completely steady financially. A lot of guys are like that.”

“Whatever, but he should know that I don’t care about that and will help out with money.”

“I’m sure he does, but it is more of a pride thing for guys,” I said, dipping a spoonful of salsa on my enchiladas. “You know, to be the provider. Brian is pretty traditional like that too.”

“Maybe you’re right. I just don’t see the point in dragging it out any longer. I am sick of waiting and his whole policy of not moving in together until we are married is about to kill me.”

“That’s what I mean, traditional.”

“He practically stays at may place every night, what is the point of paying rent on two places and throwing that money away when we just use one apartment.” Kim said.

“I dated a guy who didn’t believe in moving in together until after marriage,” Jackie said. “His explanation for it was that marriage had to have some surprises and newness to it. Evidently though, he didn’t think that sex needed waiting on.”

“I agree that marriage needs to be different than being engaged, and waiting to live together is certainly a way of making that happen,” Kate chimed in, “but I also think that both people need to be fully dedicated to it and not feel pressured in anyway.”

“Wow, what a subtle hint,” said Kim, popping a stick of gum in her mouth and twisting the wrapper around her left hand ring finger.

“Well, it is true. Great things come to those who wait.”

“Oh, give me a break.” Kim told her, holding up her hand to admire her ring. “That was before text messaging and blackberries.”

Kim’s Enchilada Casserole
1 lb. ground, lean hamburger meat
½ c chopped onion
1 can refried beans
12 soft corn tortillas
1 large can green enchilada sauce
1 cup grated cheese (she uses cheddar)
Salt, pepper, seasoning salt, camino
Salsa

Preheat oven to 350. Brown hamburger meat and onion, season with salt, pepper, seasoning salt, and camino. Mix in about ¼ of the enchilada sauce to the meat. Spread each corn tortilla with equal amount of refried beans and add a couple of spoonfuls of meat mixture to each. Roll up and place in greased baking dish. Cover all enchiladas with remaining green sauce and cover with cheese. Bake until cheese bubbles. Serve with salsa and corn chips.