Living in Lowertown has been quite interesting so far…I’ve
met some odd characters…but they’re real people.
First, there was the guitartist from a death metal band, En
Masse, who sat at my table last Saturday…just after I’d posted that last …post.
I never did get his name but I won’t forget him anytime soon.
They were in town, having played at Station 4 the night
before. At a NYDM (that’s New York Death Metal to you un-cool people….kidding)
Festival. Shaved and long hair both. Piercings and tattoos both.
His first words said something about being carbon atoms…followed shortly
with that he [we] are all made of dust from starts. He was higher than a kite
and drunker than a skunk, but interesting to talk to. It was a surreal experience to be talking to
this guy. Actually just talking to him was quite scary….in that it really is
one thing to talk to strangers …that’s my job. It’s another to talk to a
stranger out there in the world with nothing to hide behind.
Fast forward to last night. It was kind of late when I
ventured out to my current favorite outdoor space. Outside of Golden’s Deli to
use their Wi-Fi. A comfortably lit but kind of private outdoor space. I
officially met Bill. He’s a man I’ve seen come out and smoke late at night a
couple of times when I’ve been there.
Oooh boy! The stories he was telling me last night. He’s in
…gosh, it’s got to be his 60’s and he’s had some things happen in his life that
make mine look like a fairytale. And all of this I learned after I had to
politely reject his interest in us dating. Oh sure, his interest is sweet and
flattering and it was brave of him to say something but …there is just too much
age difference. I also still refuse to start dating someone just because
they’re interested in me. OK, that sounds nuts but I’ll do my best to try and
explain myself…. Maybe it’s better if I use an example to state my case… years
and years ago there was a little show called “Ally McBeal”. And a storyline about a fat man being so
interested in “Ally” because of how kind she was to him that he breaks off his
engagement to a fat woman. The fat woman confronts “Ally” and tells her to back
off and leave this man alone –discourage his interest/reject him because fat
women have it hard enough to find enough love and have to take what they can
get ….or words to that effect. I was outraged at that and also afraid there was some truth
to it. As a fat woman I certainly have less admirers than a skinny woman. That
is just a fact of life, yet I refuse to believe that I have to settle because
there are fewer choices for me.
I am not desperate…lonely at times yes, but not desperate.
Again, maybe this sounds …colder than I really intend. He really
was very sweet but also...oh what the hell, I’m going to say it…damaged goods.
Literally. He was an electrician and just before he retired (!) he got hurt
(head) and only has about 90% of his mental facilities.
But still it was interesting talking to him …he could talk!
He was in the military –an army ranger & special forces (?),
married/divorced, kids, several motorcycle accidents, sober for 35 years and
the last woman he dated (for about 9 years) was a “larger” lady. He likes a
larger lady. Oi vey!
…
And then there is J.D.
Another musician, well, former musician. I can’t remember
his last name or the name of his band, but he says they toured for years and
were the opening act for some big names. (I didn’t ask those.) 46, lives in the Farmers Market Lofts next door. Long hair.
Is [now] a music producer with a really clear idea of what the wants to
accomplish in the next 4 years (wants to retire at 50) which includes winning a Grammy! Going to open a coffee
bar in the space at the corner of his building that’s currently a empty storefront.
He’s also going to be buying Station 4. The bar a couple of blocks away. And is
opening up some video producing space in a building nearby. Divorced. NOT interested in me for dating
purposes. Recently battled/battling Graves disease but now in remission.
Now I can’t tell if any of that was pure and total bullshit
but it sure was interesting.
…
The surreal bit about this was that all 3 of us were talking
while smoking and talked off and on until about 1:30am.
…
I’m loving that this neighborhood –not necessarily my
building –has such interesting (I’ve GOT to come up with a new word…hmm,
eclectic?) people in it. I actually started to think about how I could enjoy my
life more outside of work. When Bill asked me what I liked to do for fun, it
sounded lame to say…play around online, watch TV, read, listen to music. I shouldn’t feel like there is something
wrong with that …should I?
Should I try to do more with my writing?
Maybe.
…
But before I even get caught up in what to do when I’m not
at work, I should focus on why I have skipped work as much as I have the past
couple of months. With the exclusion of the sunburn last month, I really
haven’t had a good excuse. I’ve just been out of sorts. My life is good. I
mean, no complaints. I love my apartment, the neighborhood. I’ve got good
friends and a great family. And did I even mention yet how much I LOVE LOVE my
new phone? No? Well, I do. I love the touch/slide feature. It’s so easy to use.
Anyway. I was trying to explain to someone last night
(before I made new friends) that I am feeling this…well, yes, out of sorts is
as good a description as any. To quote John Mayer…”something’s missing and I
don’t know what it is.” I thought I wanted someone to do stuff with but that’s
not even really so much it.
Maybe it’s just that I want more money and I should start
trying to figure out a way to make money on weekends. Doing something that
doesn’t feel like work. (Is that even possible or am I high? :P)
