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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Socially awkward moment, I has it

I don't profess to have a lot of experience with randomly being hit on.
In my younger days, about 80 pounds ago and 18 years ago, I used to do the prowling.
Men loved me - mostly because I was hilarious and adventurous; qualities my husband holds near and dear.
But usually when I was hit on, it was by men old enough to be my dad, or men bored with their marriages (Danger! Danger! Stay away from those assholes).
Today, I decided to hop on the subway from Queen to Union because my left foot has been causing me some discomfort and walking up to work this morning proved painful.
I got on. Sat down. Adjusted my hair... and caught the eye of this man in a suit with his bag balanced on his lap. He was blonde, average, late 30s, glasses and he smiled at me. A genuine smile. Not a 'Hey, wanna buy a banana?' smile, but a friendly smile.
This threw me so I pretended not to notice and instead, stared real hard at this ad with a Christian message scrawled across it using signs ripped from TTC subway stations.
I actually found the ad clever so I snapped a picture of it.


When I glanced over at not old enough to be my dad guy, he was full-on smiling at me. A right up to his eyelids kind of grin.
Well, yeah, I just took a picture of a sign professing love of Jesus, so I'd stare too.
The train pulls into Union and I file off with everyone else and guy who is actually quite attractive, files in behind me up the escalator.
The crowd stalls at the turnstile and guy in the not a Sears suit leans in towards me and asks, "Is your sister so and so?"
Clever, I think.
"No," I reply. "You have me confused with someone else."
He smiles at me in a 'oops, my bad' kind of way and holds the door open for me into Union.
Honestly? I don't know what to make of any of this.
Not to appear to have a lack of self-confidence or self-esteem, but I haven't felt attractive in a long time and men generally ignore me. Except for men in furniture stores - they bloody love me. Oh, and men selling cars. I can get any hood popped - ask my husband.
So, wrapped in this moment of awkwardness and because I happen to be wearing a ring on my "married" finger (he was not, I looked), I asked him for his phone number. Let's cut to the chase, right?
He pauses, smiles, and asks, "How about a drink first?"
I'm usually swift and witty, but all of a sudden, I felt tremendously inadequate and inept. I hated myself for doubting he truly did mean what he asked, but I was overcome with a feeling of unworthiness and was dumbstruck by his question because I'm a married woman with no business drinking with any strange man.
"I'm sorry," I say. "But I can't do that. I'm not sure what this is, but I'm flattered. But I'm also married, and in a hurry, so I'll have to give my regrets."
Yes, I actually said that! Bringing it like it's 1890... right here, folks!
I didn't wait for him to answer. I walked away as confidently and as hurried as my busted foot could muster, and disappeared into the crowd.

6 comments:

ty said...

I hope I'm the first comment.
What a nice thing to happen.
Really!
I loved this story and I think you're too hard on yourself. You sound like a fantastic person and I'm sure he thought so, too!
:)

C.J. Smith said...

Where did I say I wan't fantastic?!

Hella yeah.

Nat S said...

Agree with first commenter, you ARE amazing!

I have the same issue. I've gained a fair bit of weight recently and honestly don't know why my guy is still interested but the other day he disappeared from beside me to walk right behind me and I'm like wtf are you doing? He goes "Sorry, I don't like guys checking out your ass" I'm like ya right! He says "It's true! It ALWAYS happens" and I must admit, it makes me feel good (even if it bothers him :P)

YOU GO GIRL!

C.J. Smith said...

Now he's a keeper.
We women really are hard on ourselves and should just accept the flattery and shut the hell up.

ExGOnowTTC said...

A missed chance to smile back, start talking about how much you love Jesus before peeing on the train.

AllanVS said...

I was in grade 11 when this happened (1999ish). I ate some bad food, and threw it up at home (so I thought). I went to school the next morning, and felt a bit queasy, so the main receptionist (who I spoke to, to get the cash box for the school store) said I looked "like death warmed up." and sent me home (the Principal agreed with her.)
So I walked 900 meters or so to the bus stop, and waited. I got on the bus, and sat down. Felt very very sick, told the driver, got off at the next stop, and twice, threw up in the shelter (sorry to the people who went there next!).
After that, I got a drink of water at the library, then waited for the next bus. Got on, paid, and sat... didn't look, and sat on a very old woman. (She was 80 or more!). She squeaked, I jumped up, and got off the bus at the same stop I had just gotten on! All in all, one horrible 24 hour period for me. :S