The other week, I found a planner in the lobby of the building where I work. At first, I didn't even recognize what it was, because in a technological world populated with Blackberry's and iPhone's, does anyone really write down their daily schedule anymore? I didnt think so, but apparently, so. Guess I'm just new-fashioned that way. I flipped through the planner and since I couldnt find any ownership information, I did the next best thing. I posted an ad on Craigslist and used an alias name for myself.
Three hours later and four emails later, a guy named Gabriel came to the shop and thanked me profusely, claiming I had saved his life. It was really no big deal. Anyone who has ever lost anything, would do the same. Right? Still, Gabriel wanted to thank me properly. With money. Which, I couldn't accept, so I said the first thing that popped in my head. I suggested a drink at the historic Hotel Congress. It wasnt until after Gabriel left, that I realized how lame and bizzare my proposal was. But, seriously, what are you supposed to say and/or do in a situation like that?
I met Gabriel later that day, for a really awkward drink. We both knew that the drink would last for a mere matter of minutes and then we would be off on our seperate ways, probably never ever seeing each other for the rest of our lives. What the hell was I thinking? I almost didnt go and at the very last moment, I almost ditched Gabriel and the awkward drink. But I couldn't. Call it ethics or morals, but I knew, it wasn't right to stand someone up for something you had planned.
"Hey."
"Hey Dude."
"What's up?"
"Not much."
"Cool. So, what do you want?"
"Uh, just get me, uh, like a gin and tonic."
Even more awkwardness. For the most part, guys really aren't social. Girls are. That's why we hate it when they take us out to meet their friends, because we know that we are in for a night of silence. I couldn't wait to down my drink and get the whole thing over with. That's when Gabriel's cell rang. Talk about saved by the ring.
"Hold on a sec. It's my friend Gem."
"Gem Masters?"
I dont know what made me even think of that name. I had never heard of the name Gem, until my first day in the sixth grade. In fact, the last time I ever heard the name was at my 8th grade graduation. Next to Colette, Gem was the only other girl I kinda, sorta, liked in middle school. It was the braces, that sparkling mouth jewelry that did it for me. That and the Old Navy, powder blue, fleece vest she wore. All of which, made me real nervous whenever I saw her in class or in the halls. I never thought I'd see Gem again and figured she would be nothing more, than a part of my past.
And now, surprisingly, Gabriel was talking to her.
The moment he got off the phone, Gabriel asked me how I knew it was Gem Masters. I didnt. It was pure coincidence. We actually spent the next hour at the bar, talking about Gem and how we each knew her. Turns out, Gabriel worked for some sort of humanitarian organization based out in Michigan that has an office here in Tucson, and during one of the company's "getting to know you" soiree's, he met Gem. He actually moved to Tucson because of her. I asked if they were dating and turns out, he never had the guts either. And just like that, I found out an old crush was single, my new friend Gabriel thinks my name is Luke and is it just me, or is it weird to say that I found a new friend on Craigslist?
Three hours later and four emails later, a guy named Gabriel came to the shop and thanked me profusely, claiming I had saved his life. It was really no big deal. Anyone who has ever lost anything, would do the same. Right? Still, Gabriel wanted to thank me properly. With money. Which, I couldn't accept, so I said the first thing that popped in my head. I suggested a drink at the historic Hotel Congress. It wasnt until after Gabriel left, that I realized how lame and bizzare my proposal was. But, seriously, what are you supposed to say and/or do in a situation like that?
I met Gabriel later that day, for a really awkward drink. We both knew that the drink would last for a mere matter of minutes and then we would be off on our seperate ways, probably never ever seeing each other for the rest of our lives. What the hell was I thinking? I almost didnt go and at the very last moment, I almost ditched Gabriel and the awkward drink. But I couldn't. Call it ethics or morals, but I knew, it wasn't right to stand someone up for something you had planned.
"Hey."
"Hey Dude."
"What's up?"
"Not much."
"Cool. So, what do you want?"
"Uh, just get me, uh, like a gin and tonic."
Even more awkwardness. For the most part, guys really aren't social. Girls are. That's why we hate it when they take us out to meet their friends, because we know that we are in for a night of silence. I couldn't wait to down my drink and get the whole thing over with. That's when Gabriel's cell rang. Talk about saved by the ring.
"Hold on a sec. It's my friend Gem."
"Gem Masters?"
I dont know what made me even think of that name. I had never heard of the name Gem, until my first day in the sixth grade. In fact, the last time I ever heard the name was at my 8th grade graduation. Next to Colette, Gem was the only other girl I kinda, sorta, liked in middle school. It was the braces, that sparkling mouth jewelry that did it for me. That and the Old Navy, powder blue, fleece vest she wore. All of which, made me real nervous whenever I saw her in class or in the halls. I never thought I'd see Gem again and figured she would be nothing more, than a part of my past.
And now, surprisingly, Gabriel was talking to her.
The moment he got off the phone, Gabriel asked me how I knew it was Gem Masters. I didnt. It was pure coincidence. We actually spent the next hour at the bar, talking about Gem and how we each knew her. Turns out, Gabriel worked for some sort of humanitarian organization based out in Michigan that has an office here in Tucson, and during one of the company's "getting to know you" soiree's, he met Gem. He actually moved to Tucson because of her. I asked if they were dating and turns out, he never had the guts either. And just like that, I found out an old crush was single, my new friend Gabriel thinks my name is Luke and is it just me, or is it weird to say that I found a new friend on Craigslist?
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