Remember how I said I was a bit of a nervous chatterbox during our date? So I may have missed a couple of important facts during our conversation. I mean, there was live music - it was loud. Sue me.
When Athena checked in on me early in the week, she asked if I’d heard from our hero and I said no, but also that his three kids were all going back to school, and she answered that yes, kids going back to school can simply shut a person down.
I’m sure that was the case for our good old SMcQ., as I knew for sure that one of his kids was traveling several states away and another was moving away too. The third was heading towards his senior year in high school. I knew this well, we’d talked about it a lot, but for some reason, I was thinking the older two were already moved last Sunday when the date occurred.
Regardless, I went on with my week, and as you read, got increasingly down about not hearing from the guy. Not in an all-consuming way (no, not at all, heh), but just in a we-had-SUCH-a-great-date kind of way and what could have possibly happened?
You have to understand, I’m so PTSD lately - in the last few weeks, not one but TWO dudes have literally run away from me and one more guy simply ghosted. So not hearing a peep was triggering my anxiety.
ANYWAY. The week went on and the world didn’t stop rotating. I mean, hell - there was even a total eclipse of the SUN! Loads of interesting things happened this week. I found lots to write about. I worked. I got yelled at. I did a lot of walking my dog. I took myself out to eat a few times.
Last night, on my walk with the dog, we walked to the adjacent little area of downtown (an area split from my neighborhood by underpasses so it feels like a totally different part of town). It’s a funky little area with music venues and cool restaurants and lots of nightlife. We went to a Chinese noodle place, which is really neither here nor there, but I had dumplings and spicy cucumbers and a glass of wine.
On the walk home, I spotted a mural. It’s one of about a thousand that have popped up in the neighborhood. Many times I don’t even pay that much attention to them - I do enjoy the color and the beauty, but these murals are plentiful and I feel like I’ve seen them all anyway.
But I stopped mid-stride, pulling the dog back. Right there, in between two buildings, in a little courtyard, was a mural of…none other than Steve McQueen! Whaaaat?
It was black and white mural of Steve McQueen on a motorcycle with a kind of mosaic-y colorful background in blues and greens and soft colors. It was like a crazy dream.
So I stopped to take a picture and I even posted it on IG and FB.
And then…AND THEN!
My phone buzzed.
The text.
SMcQ: How’s your week been?
My heart stopped. You guys. How do things like this even happen?
When my heart started beating again, I gathered my wits and my dog (she sat down and refused to continue walking!) and carried her most of the way back home, my mind blown.
I waited until I got home and caught my breath and my mind settled down. And then I texted back.
GS: Pretty incredible, how about yours?
SMcQ: Still on the road; all good!
[…seeeeee, Ginger?? He’s been traveling, duh! He’s been taking his kids back to school, duh!]
GS: Well, I hope you come home someday!
SMcQ: It is very cool weather up here…maybe when fall comes to [my state]??
GS: Hm. Okay. I’ll see you sometime in those two weeks in October!
SMcQ: Will be back late tomorrow, and my youngest starts his senior HS year on Monday… let’s catch up for another beverage soon; will need it…
GS: OK, Daddy-o. You’re doing a great job. You’re nearly there and I can help you ease right out of that mode! [smiley face]
SMcQ: [thumbs up; wink face]
So there. He’s alive. He’s on the road. He’s still the King of Cool.
xox,
GS
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