Cleaning Up A Mess

I would like to start by saying I'M REALLY LUCKY. And very grateful. With that being said....

.....I'm terrified to live with a boy. To live with anybody, really. I had a couple of roommates in college, and when I was a senior, I got my own place. I've lived alone ever since, and DO NOT miss having a roommate! I just love making every decorating decision, and having everything neat and tidy. Occasionally, I'll leave a dish in the sink (SOAKING, of course! Never getting crunchy...), or go a week without sweeping. But that is the rarity, and it is much easier for me to be tolerant of my own mess.

Yesterday, George and I got lunch at Sea Siam.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/13/182129/restaurant/Sea-Siam-Keller
(Great Thai restaurant right by my apartment! $6.95 lunch special includes soup, salad, eggroll, and entree! All VEGAN options, too!!!)

(picture from: http://www.pegasusnews.com/places/sea-siam/)

I was so relieved that he had taken Teddy for a walk and to play ball outside prior to our date. That meant I didn't have to go home and let him out! But when I got home from work, his shock collar wasn't on (and he barked incessantly AT ME walking through the door). The puppy pad wasn't inside. A puddle of pee was on my freshly cleaned floor. An empty McDonalds coke was on the counter, and crumbs. A cereal bowl was crusty in my sink. An Oriental 2011 wall calendar that I had told George to keep because it did NOT match my place, was left on the table. One sock by the bed...one under my desk. I was furious.

I rudely texted him, and told him about the mess he'd left. I told him that I liked my place neat (as if he didn't know) and I didn't appreciate coming home to a pit.

After sipping some wine on my couch, and watching The View (I DVR this show daily, don't hate), I realized something HUGE.

I can clean up a mess. I can clean and sanitize my floors. These are fix-able. If I damage my relationship, how do I repair that? Can you ever really clean up a messy fight? Sometimes, words are said that we always remember. Fortunately, this wasn't one of our biggest brawls. I'd barely even consider it a fight. But I was grateful for that brief moment of clarity in the midst of my racing thoughts. I hope to focus more on that insight in the future.

I know that eventually George and I will be husband and wife. And sadly, we will be roommates. I just hope that I remember along the way that I am fortunate to have somebody like George in my life. He loves and accepts me AND my OCD tendencies. I guess if he can work on cleaning up after himself, and I can work on letting the little things go, we'll be just fine. But if there are any married couples...or co-habitating couples out there...PLEASE give me some advice!!!!!!!