South Africa! Let’s sweep the whole apartheid thing under the rug for a second and marvel at the majestic sights of this beautiful country. I want to go there. Does Ernie Els have a daughter?
This is “overnight date week” in Bachelorville. Why just there? If we have days set aside for arbors and labors, I don’t understand why we can’t set aside a week for something like this.
The Brad has it so easy. He can give a girl an invitation to shack up and say “Chris Harrison gave this to you.” Chris Harrison should rent himself out. It comes across so much classier than the typical alcohol/desperation/might-as-well-best-available-option hookup reasons.
I loved the conversation between Emily and the Brad after the elephant ride about lil Ricky being a package deal. Emily brings out the protector / provider side of Brad. If not noticeable on the surface, just about every guy wants to be that for their right girl. Striking a balance between independence / strength and vulnerability / dependence is an important thing to figure out in a growing relationship. When Emily told Brad that, you know, she was falling in love with him, I think he wanted to stand up and ring the bell declaring this bout OVER. The 90 pounder has TKO’d the field.
Ashley got enough reassurance from the Brad to overcome her fear of helicopters and go on that breathtaking ride. Sooo many girls on this show can’t do something until they receive the reassurance from the Bachelor. I think it would be funny if just one time the Bachelor tells her to stop being such a baby and get in the dang plane/boat/harness. Sorry for the spike of cynicism; I’ll get back to the “Hallmark zone” now.
Did Ashley really say that she’d “consider living somewhere warm, like southern Maine?” Does she comprehend that she’s dating someone from Texas?
The over-achiever side of Ashley would scare me and I also think scared Brad. Achievement is great, but balance is too. Looking back, I know there are times I wish achievement was less of a focus of mine and also ponder what-ifs regarding pushing myself harder. Guys are super attracted to success and drive because we’re competitive and want to be “good enough” for that type of girl. However, it also brings up concerns about being nagged about not being/doing enough, an inability to stop and smell the roses / enjoy the moment, and being with someone who constantly looks for external sources of self-worth.
What an awkward date with Ashley. I don’t know if any of you have ever had one of those heart-sinking “this is over” type moments, but they definitely had that on this date. Awkward silences, bad communication, and they couldn’t even look at each other. You can try to be chipper and over-positive and force yourself back to the fantasy suite, but what’s done is done.
Brad cares a lot about being respectful, but with that desire I think he ends up applying it poorly during the break ups. The “Man’s Perspective” (what does that make me?) did an excellent job of bringing up this very topic last week. When you break up with somebody, the other person then gets the floor. You can’t force them to be friends, you can’t force them to like you, and you can’t force them to agree with you. If they take it well and want to go through the “you’re great” “no, you’re great” dance, then so be it. If they want to be very brief and cold and get out of there, that should be respected as well. Maybe some sort of friendship relationship can occur down the line. Brad, stop grabbing for hands and being over-chivalrous. What you just revealed to them is a place you got to for a considerably longer time period than you’ve given them to react to the new situation.
Finale next week - Does the Brad finally find his wife? Or is he the male version of the Runaway Bride?
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