When bad things happen, its human nature to retrace your steps and you look back at the decisions and the events that led up to a bad result. You regret something, or you wish something had never happened, or think what could have been if you could go back and change something. But do you ever retrace your steps when something good happens?
Take my situation, for example.
Part 1:
At the beginning of the year, my friend invited me to go out to dinner with her and some co-workers. I only knew her and another girl, but figured, why not? I carpooled with one of them and went to dinner. I had a good time, and after dinner, they talked about going out dancing. I don't usually turn down dancing, so I agreed, but my carpool friend wanted to go home. I decided to stay and drive back with someone else. Out of the people that went dancing, there was my friend, her boyfriend, two of her friends who were girls, and two that were guys. I knew one of them was gay, so I kinda just assumed the other one was too, so I was dancing with him and looking like an idiot. And then he asked for my phone number. Oh, ok, apparently you may like women, that's cool. So I gave it to him.
In that paragraph alone there were at least three decision points that could have ended the whole story.
Part 2:
In the following months, we became friends on Facebook and he texted me about liking the pictures I had on there. He did this at quite possibly the worst time possible, as I was starting to experiment with dating techniques. I bluntly replied that I thought his pictures were sexy, if for no other reason other than because I'd never done it before. And because it was true. But still, very out of character for me, I figured I had nothing to lose. I might have been wrong.
This was in May. I didn't hear back after that last comment.
Part 3:
Until July at least, when I get a message from him saying he moved closer to where I live and asking if I wanted to get together sometime. Considering I got that at 1am on a Tuesday, I didn't have much faith I'd get an answer if I responded. I responded anyway. And didn't hear back again.
Part 4:
Until last Monday. He apologized for disappearing and asked if I wanted to go out this weekend. After all of this, I was ready to say no, but in the name of science said yes. We went out on Friday, and it was the best date I've had in a ridiculously long time. Details aside, I made "the drive of shame" a thing. And now I want him to like me, I really do, but I don't know how to navigate this ridiculous world of adult dating. I don't know how to have text conversations, I don't know what happens now. Ugh.
But the whole point of this is to realize that sometimes good things happen in very roundabout ways, and that you shouldn't close yourself to possibilities just because of something stupid. It took five months and a lot of back-and-forth for this to happen, but now I can truly say I'm glad I gave this the benefit of the doubt and went with it. Even though it sounds like it wasn't going to happen.
Now, how do I make the little red light start blinking on my Blackberry?
No comments:
Post a Comment