#20: Maybe Another Time

SLICE OF LIFE

Hi yes hello,

I am absolutely bursting at the seams. I just lived a MOMENT and then wandered through the grocery store with my head on a swivel begging to run into someone I know so I could tell this story. I was sizing people up to determine whether they’d be receptive to a stranger’s anecdote, but alas, we’re not in the Midwest anymore.

It’s Thursday evening around 6pm, and I step out to grab some veg for dinner. I neglected to check the fridge before I left, so I didn’t get everything we needed, but it doesn’t even matter after what transpired. Small potatoes. (Which coincidentally, should have been on the list and weren’t.) The sun is low in the sky. It’s a breezy 82, and the shadows are shading. This is prime walking weather, and it’s all over my face. I’m soft smiling left and right. You get a toothless grin! And you get a toothless grin!

I admittedly did look down when passing a pack of fratty-looking guys because I didn’t want to mess with the potential repercussions of such a smile #justgirlythings, but everyone else was fair game. As I’m rounding the corner of Rhode Island and 15th (don’t use that tidbit of information to stalk me), I smile at an older gentleman. He looks a bit surprised but mostly pleased. Sometimes I revel in this sort of nonverbal feedback from an old person because I feel like one of the good ones. I imagine they’re thinking to themselves wow what a pleasant young lady, I guess not all young people just live in their phones. My hope in the next generation is restored! And I suspect I will live many happy years longer because of this 2-second interaction. You know, just basic life-changing appreciation stuff.

I walk on, content in the notion that I just extended this man’s life for the better when I hear, “Oh.”

What do you do with an “Oh.”? At first, I thought maybe I had flustered him to the point of dropping his own grocery bag, but I didn’t hear the thud of package on pavement, so all I could do was turn around to assess what this “Oh.” was all about.

I turn, and now we’re standing two meters apart, both turned slightly away from one another but facing each other kindly.

I said, “Oh?” and took a step toward him. He smiled.

"Do you have plans for this evening?”

Ah, now I get it. He was so charmed by what a delightful young person I am that he wanted to chat. Of course! I am an old soul, after all. I get this a lot.

“No, just going to get some food for dinner. Do you?”

His smile widened. He shook his head.

“No,” there was a pause. His eye contact felt different somehow, but I didn’t understand why until the next moment.

“Maybe we could make some plans together,” he finished with a grin.

Now it was my turn to say, “Oh!”

For a moment I was confused but also shocked but also tickled?! This man had game! And I cannot emphasize this enough — he was not a creepy old guy. He was smooth! Smooth as the butter probably melting in his paper bag as we chatted on the sidewalk.

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” I managed.

He smiled again, “Not to worry. Maybe another time.”

I smiled and started to turn away before asking for his name.

“Neil,” he said. “And yours?”

“Ariana,” I smiled back.

“Another time then,” he said and turned on his way.

Source: Enchanted 2007.

I am reeling. What the freaking heck?! This man was either a well-aged 95 or a normally-aged 85. He has lived a full life and clearly gives no fucks. This man hit on me in the street and was completely unbothered by my decline, slightly pleased even, that he got to ask at all.

Please join me in wishing Neil well. He no doubt gets bitches, although not this one tonight.

Wishing you more Neils and fewer catcallers,

Ariana