Time passes so quickly doesn't it? I'm not talking about 2006 or 2007 either. I'm talking about YEARS - like 15 years. Fifteen years ago I was starting my last semester as a senior in college. Ugh, that makes me sound old.
I was 20 years old and still looking for my first job; dealing with all my other friends finding jobs before Christmas break; deciding if I wanted to still seriously date my high school sweetheart who had just a year before broken up with me and shattered my life. At 20 I had braces on - AGAIN - and was looking forward to getting them off very soon.
Fifteen years ago today, I had accepted a date with someone who was a friend of a friend. Was I cheating on my high school sweetie who was trying to make up for breaking my heart a year before - well, yeah I guess. Turns out that the blind date which happened 15 years ago TOMORROW was awful. The only good thing was that he was my first date without my braces as I had gotten them off that same day.
We had nothing in common and only had our mutual friend to talk about. I guess he wasn't having the best time either because my date and I decided to meet up with friends at a local townie bar. When I walked in the bar, I was met by this strange guy with a tie tied too tight. My friends and I called him "Creepy Gawker Guy" and stayed far away.
Turns out that "Creepy Gawker Guy" was sitting with his friend (Creepy Gawker Guy's friend) who looked somewhat normal. Actually, I can't say that with certainty because I was so miserable during my date that I had several drinks. In the end, CGG's friend asked for my phone number and I gave it to him. Normally I give the Empire Carpet phone number to the very few people who did ask for it in bars, but I actually gave it to CGG's friend.
CGG's friend didn't write it down so I was shocked when he called me at 8:30 the next morning, a Sunday no less. That's the last time I've ever seen CGG's friend up and chatty so early in the morning because 15 years later, David (CGG's friend), doesn't like mornings and can't get through one with out at least 2 cups of coffee.
Whatever happened to CGG? Who knows - the last I heard he married the mother of one of his dates that didn't work out. And the friend of a friend that I dated? I haven't heard from him in 15 years. And my old high school sweetheart - whatever happened to him? Tod's a successful marketing person in an office supply company but past that I don't know - he doesn't talk to me and that's a story for another day.
Fifteen years is a really long time; some days it feels like 15 minutes and others it feels like 15 decades. Today, it feels like 15 years. Ask me again tomorrow and you may get a different answer!
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