A Little Flashback
This post actually came about from a comment I left on another blog talking about strange people sitting next to you on the bus…
Back in high school, I lived out of area for the school I went to because the high school district was a so-called “open district” and you could basically choose what school you wanted to go to as long as there was room. So rather than go to the school in my neighborhood, where even 20-something years ago there was gang activity and kids had been threatened by guns in the parking lot, I went to a school in a better neighborhood (and oddly enough where my future husband went to school as well even though we didn’t really meet each other in high school - we met in college).
Anyway, I used to either get driven to school (because I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 18, but that’s another story for another day…lol) or I would ride the city bus.
I’m sure that those of you who have ridden city buses in your life are well aware that there is quite a mixture of interesting and strange people that ride the city bus in any municipality, and this city is no exception to that rule. So I would ride the bus to school in the morning and sometimes home in the afternoon, although my mom usually came and picked me up in the afternoons, bless her soul.
Every once in awhile, I would ride the bus to my dad’s office across town after school and hang out with him until the end of his workday. (See? There was actually a time when we got along…lol!) And on those bus trips, I most definitely met more than my fair share of very “interesting” people. And they all seemed to want to sit next to me, EVEN THOUGH there were plenty of empty seats on the bus elsewhere. (I finally figured out that if I sat on the aisle seat, I was more likely to NOT get a seat partner.)
In between my high school and the street where I had to change buses, there was a Catholic boy’s high school and a Catholic girl’s high school, so there was always an influx of high school students on the bus at that point. And one day, a high school boy took the seat next to me. A very cute high school boy with the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. And he started talking to me. And FLIRTING with me. You have to understand that when I was in high school, I was a shy little thing, nothing like I am now…lol! So, this was a huge deal.
He apparently took a liking to me, and to be honest, I took a liking to him, too. And he even asked me to get off the bus at his stop and go to McDonald’s with him. And was that ever tempting. But, I was a good girl, and since it was before the time of the cell phone, I couldn’t call and ask my dad for permission. And even though he suggested I just call my dad from McDonald’s, I didn’t think my dad would be at all pleased that I had made that choice, so I regretfully said no and stayed on the bus. So we parted, and I went on to my dad’s office. And let me tell you, the seat mate I got on the second bus made me really wish I’d gotten off with my newfound friend.
I’d like to tell you that I gave him my telephone number and he called and we dated or we met on the bus another day and I was able to go to McDonald’s with him then, but alas, none of those things happened. I think he might have asked me for my number, but I was a cautious girl and didn’t think I should give it to him without permission. And even though I went to my dad’s office on the bus several times after that, I never saw him again.
It’s funny looking back at that girl because she was soooo cautious and soooo shy and was definitely not into rocking the boat or taking risks. The Karin of today, on the other hand, would totally have gotten off that bus or given him her phone number…lol!
I wonder, though, how I’d feel if the same thing happened to LG? Of course, we live in the cell phone universe now, so she’d have the option of calling and asking. And she’d have her own number to give out, or an email address at the very least. There is most definitely something to be said for technology when it comes to making the world a smaller place. And I think that’s a good thing. (At least if she meets a NICE boy…lol!)
So there’s my story. Now, I’d like to hear yours. Did you ever have a random meeting with someone that never went anywhere? Or maybe it did? Feel free to share it in the comments or even to write a blog entry and leave your link!
Comment by Twisted Cinderella
June 27, 2007 @ 6:38 am
Great story. I remember when I was moving from NL to NS and I was on the ferry by myself. It was an overnight run and early that evening, I met this cute guy. We talked and walked and spent the evening together and when it was time to sleep we picked recliner chairs that were next to each other and joked about how we were sleeping together on the ferry. We ate breakfast the next day and exchanged addresses before we parted ways. he was on his way to ON. Anyway, he did write me, but it was after Prince Charming and I were together so nothing came of it. But it is a nice memory
Comment by Angel
June 27, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
Oooh! I have a good one :)
I was at Honors orientation for College (the summer before my freshman year). At lunch, I started talking to the girl in front of me in line. We ate lunch together. I’m that kind of person who strikes up conversations with strangers in line LOL.
Fast forward a few months, I was at the Honors open house (for students and parents) and ran into her again, she remembered me, and we both headed to the students-only picnic.
She introduced me to her new boyfriend–they both met in the Honors dorm. He introduced me to his roommates.
…..and one of them was Goalieman. Almost 4 years to the day, we got married :)
Comment by Theresa
June 28, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Well, I wasn’t supposed to be answering the phone where I was doing part time consulting, but the thing kept ringing and ringing, so I did. And Mike was the person calling. We didn’t actually engage in a conversation, but he says he was so intrigued by my voice, that he found excuses to call the office when he knew I would be there every day, hoping I’d answer. :)
Great story, Karin!