I gave up on meeting new people after the demise of my last serious relationship. New guys are like new shoes in my twisted stream of consciousness – they look amazing and turn heads when people first see them, but after a while they become worn, painful and tainted. It’s inevitable – purchasing a new pair is always necessary to rid the boredom and blisters.
However, sometimes my new guy/new shoes anecdote fails, and I’m thrown a pleasant curve ball. People come into my life usually as a karmatic gift after one guy leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth that I am prepared to break down and swear off men all together, or bury myself in school work.
The last bitter taste occurred in January. He was a bartender I met accidentally after he saved me from getting knocked out by a drunken ex-coworker of mine. We shared interesting conversation, incredible make-out sessions and drama beyond anything I ever experienced in my life. He gave me too much attention. I got scared. He backed off. And poof – he was seeing someone else before I even had the chance to get to know his last name.
Miscommunication caused arguments and bitter alcohol-induced bickering, and presently, he cannot seem to decide if he wants to hold onto his new love interest or give me – the young, confused girl – another shot. Needless to say, his confusion and horrible decision-making tactics have left me puzzled and pissed off.
Last Thursday, I found myself standing in the elevator of my building with my best friend when, all of a sudden, I secretly shared a quick smile with a guy holding a skateboard. Why someone would be smiling at me when I was trying on the death eyes for size was beyond me.
This smiling guy had been someone I’ve seen a few times while gallivanting around campus. Every time I see him, he smiles at me and whisks away, leaving me with the “click click” of his skateboard wheeling over the cracks of Liacouras Walk. His silence and innocent smile intrigued me.
Being that I have no shame, I decided to actually speak to him – which led to an exchange of laughs, sarcasm and phone numbers. Since January, I stressed over my bartender, when all along I forgot about my first dear love – skateboarders.
Recently, we decided to get together. Our meeting turned into a seven-hour conversation and an overdue snuggle session. I remembered how amazing those first few hours of meeting a new person can make you feel like you are 16 years old again, when just holding hands was enough to spark that slight tickle in your stomach.
When we spout out all the activities and interests that make us who we are to someone for the first time, it’s like all the bad decisions and heart-breaking moments of your life never existed – they are seeing you for everything your mom and dad would brag to other parents about.
H is smile intoxicates me, and as of today, the bartender is beginning to unlatch himself from my thoughts.
The moral of this story could be that everything happens for a reason, but I find it more fitting to say that karma is an interesting and powerful concept. Bad guys, like bad shoes, end up in everyone’s closet. When this is all said and done, I learned something from my bartender: not every pair of shoes is going to fit perfectly forever, and there’s no one truly to blame.
And even though my skepticism about meeting new guys was pretty much on target for too long, I was once again taken by surprise when my karma decided to smile upon me in an elevator.
Giavanna Ippolito can be reached at giavanna.ippolitio@temple.edu.
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