I randomly thought today about another guy that I briefly dated in high school. And believe it, Internets — HE WAS A NICE GUY. I was only in my sophomore year, and I remember him coming to pick me up at my grandmother’s house (he was a year or two above me).
I was in awe when Piano Man sat down at my grandmother’s piano and started playing by heart something so intensely beautiful. I almost want to say it was something he composed himself. Grandmother? Impressed. Me? Beyond words.
We went on a few dates, and then I moved to a new high school — but we kept in touch, albeit through LETTERS… damn life before internet and cell phone communication. I remember another date just sitting with him outside on his front step, talking, watching the stars… and then he brought his guitar out and started singing to me. Why did I not think this was incredibly cheesy back then? Well, because he wasn’t cheesy in the slightest. He went on to become a college professor because he also had a brain to go along with all his other talents. (I Googled him a few years ago — psycho web-stalker — I think I may have e-mailed him too).
Ultra-romantic guys like that would freak me out today.
The relationship obviously did not advance to “serious” mostly as result of the distance. I gleefully ran into him though in one of my “in between” phases with HSS while pop-and-locking over at the Mentor Have a Nice Day Cafe (totally aging myself here). We went back to his parents house to post-party after the bar (he had already relocated elsewhere after college), and then he apparently got sick. Well, he was in the bathroom for a really, really long time. We had to let ourselves out of his house without saying goodbye. I never saw him again. I imagine he never healed from the embarrassment, since I never heard from him again either.
See? The Google search assured me that I didn’t leave him there to die in his own vomit.
His family would eventually move out of Mentor, therefore never inducing the chance of running into him or his family again. I’m randomly thinking about him because I met someone that reminded me of him. Totally weird, brain. Totally weird.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Curious…why would an ultra romantic guy freak you out? Old school romance should be enjoyed…
September 26th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Hmmm. . .I like the sound of this
September 26th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Great story…I think we all have that “one that got away.”
That’s a good story in that category.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:53 am
You are so nuts. No wonder no one wants to be with you for long.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Huh. Thanks, “Ann.”
Oh, and thanks for the IP address. It looks really, really familiar for some reason. Dick.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Guys like a little crazy in their women, (I almost said “girls”) hence the reason we are not alone for long! DUH! Really who wants to date a “normal” girl? Not me!
September 26th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I know what you mean about guys being TOO romantic, though. I had this guy in high school (I think I was a sophmore at the time) that used to write my poetry all the time and during our lunch period, we would sit on the floor in the hallway against the wall and he would read me his latest poem. I thought it was really cool, unique, and sensitive… at FIRST. After like the third day, I was creeped out by it. Rule number one, guys… we don’t want to be man-lier than you. Romance to me is being thoughtful enough to cook me dinner and every now and again pay me a compliment. Notice that my hair looks good and tell me. Buy tickets to a movie that I really want to see that I know you don’t want to see and then surprise me with them. Little stuff like that is the GOOD stuff. The writing of the songs and the singing to us and writing poetry… eeeewwwww…
September 27th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Vanessa…and it seems that women like a little “jerk” in their men. I’m convinced they enjoy feeling submissive from time to time. Thoughts?
September 27th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Tara- I think you are 100% correct. I always wonder why, though. Why, in modern society, do we think this way? Do we consider history’s great poets and songwriters to be feminine? Neruda, Browning, Elvis, Sinatra, etc. 90% of popular music is about love or lack thereof…I’m sure you’ve found certain rock bands sexy.
I’ve felt comfortable enough in my manhood to quote poetry. Isn’t this more a display of masculinity than hammering rocks and drinking Bud?
September 27th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Mitch - it’s all in the delivery. If you’re quoting poetry and coming across as an intelligent man that wants to express something in a unique way to you, then that would be great. I guess I’m more referencing the guys that lay it on too thick. It’s the guys that will do whatever you want them to do all the time. They think that’s being sensitive and romantic. To me, it’s just being bitchy and boring.
And yes, of COURSE I have found certain rock bands to be sexy! haha… If you only knew me, you’d laugh that you even said that. haha
September 27th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
What was this guys name?? I forget… and Ann… I should bitch slap you… since you’re a little bitch and all!!
September 28th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Tara…well, I’d say we are on the same page, then. My only point was that poetry/songs and manliness are not mutually exclusive. Emotionally soft, squishy people of either gender are generally unattractive, methinks. Rock on…