I (22M) was invited to my girlfriend’s (22F) family seafood boil. Her family is very large and extravagant, regularly hosting events where everyone gets together to feast and enjoy each other’s company. There is barely any drama or arguments; they are all incredibly supportive and loving towards one another. However, I’m not as close to them. My girlfriend has three siblings, each with spouses, and although I haven’t proposed yet, I’ve been dating her for six years. I was planning to propose at their next family gathering because that’s the kind of proposal she wants. I’ve always been shy around her family, and since I had a difficult family life growing up, it’s hard for me to connect with other families, especially parents. I try my best, but my efforts often lead to embarrassing situations.
Fortunately, my girlfriend doesn’t mind my shyness. We are deeply in love, understand each other remarkably well, and communicate effectively. She’s always been there for me when I needed support, which is something I truly appreciate.
Here’s where I messed up: At the beginning of summer, my girlfriend was accepted into medical school after finishing her first four years of college. To celebrate, her family decided to hold their annual seafood boil, which is a significant event for them. They invite everyone: siblings, spouses, grandparents, kids, pets, and family friends. If you’re unfamiliar with a seafood boil, it’s essentially a large pot filled with seafood, vegetables, and various seasonings—it tastes incredible. My girlfriend’s family utilizes a GIANT pot where everyone can help themselves.
I planned to propose during the seafood boil. I had the ring ready, we all dressed nicely, and the backyard of the house was beautiful. Her sister even brought a professional camera, and her brother made a surprise cake. I was excited but extremely nervous. So nervous, in fact, that I started feeling very nauseous. Fearful of what might happen, I took some medicine and decided to push through, which turned out to be the worst decision of my life.
After hours of cooking, they finally revealed the giant pot filled with food. It looked beautiful, smelled heavenly, and made my mouth water. However, my stomach was still churning. My girlfriend and I were the first to serve ourselves because it was her special day. But as soon as I approached the pot, my stomach began to flip, my mouth started salivating, and I felt hot and lightheaded. Suddenly, the inevitable happened—I was about to puke. There was no stopping it, and it was going to be bad.
I erupted, vomiting right into the giant pot. It was everywhere; not a single piece of food escaped my bodily fluids. My nausea felt unrelenting, and I could see everyone in shocked silence. I managed to mutter, “I’m so sorry,” before stumbling off to the bathroom. Once there, I sat on the toilet and cried.
When I returned, everyone was trying to be nice, but I could feel their disappointment lingering in the air. They eventually re-prepared the food, but it took another three to four hours. Many people had to leave by then. I ended up paying my girlfriend’s parents a substantial amount for the food I had ruined. I felt like I had destroyed my girlfriend’s special day, her family’s annual party, and my chance to propose. I really fucked up.
TL;DR: I accidentally vomited into my girlfriend’s family’s seafood boil pot and ruined her special day.
Comments
Right.