The other night I was outside watering some desperately dry plants when a girl was leaving my neighbor's place. We said "Hi" and, after a few steps on and a little thought, she languidly turned around and decided to make a go of it. She was volunteering for HRC and going door-to-door to get money. One day long ago, I had done similarly with MASSPIRG and I couldn't stand it and some bad circumstances surrounding it (including total dehydration to the point of being unable to sweat and being locked out from bed until 4AM). This HRC girl and I talked about gay rights and national and state amendments and she didn't do the standard points or have prepared responses. It was just talking.
And so we got on to other topics. It turns out she went to Pomona, which was a place I considered, and she knew the college I attended. There was a particular connection we had that I haven't had in a long time. Even among my college friends I stay in contact with, it's not the same. Some of it was simply newness and some was finding similarities that I haven't newly-found in a long time. Some of it was that even though she was worn out she had an energy about her. She's doing things like moving to Ecuador for a few months, acting, tap dancing, hoping to work on environmental policy in poorer European countries, etc. Some of it was the way we could talk. Even after talking HRC business, we would talk and I would try to leave moments of silence for her to exit (I try to save people the pain of my verbal largesse). Instead she'd bring up this or that and keep going.
She is a complete hippie, head to toe, from her positive nature to her outfit to when she asked if I liked the Dave Matthews Band (I don't). She's also very intelligent and studied. In college there were some girls like her. I never became close friends with them but they were fun to be around in the co-ops and elsewhere. Now I miss them, though probably only as much as I miss being stuck in close proximity to cool people in general.
After we talked over my side fence for around 40 minutes she was late to go round up the other volunteers. There was that goodbye moment I hate and used to work hard to avoid where I think to myself "It's too bad we'll never talk again." I'm still not fond of it but it's been so long I'm glad to have had a conversation that warranted that feeling.
Btw, I'm not gay. Just thought I'd mention that.
And so we got on to other topics. It turns out she went to Pomona, which was a place I considered, and she knew the college I attended. There was a particular connection we had that I haven't had in a long time. Even among my college friends I stay in contact with, it's not the same. Some of it was simply newness and some was finding similarities that I haven't newly-found in a long time. Some of it was that even though she was worn out she had an energy about her. She's doing things like moving to Ecuador for a few months, acting, tap dancing, hoping to work on environmental policy in poorer European countries, etc. Some of it was the way we could talk. Even after talking HRC business, we would talk and I would try to leave moments of silence for her to exit (I try to save people the pain of my verbal largesse). Instead she'd bring up this or that and keep going.
She is a complete hippie, head to toe, from her positive nature to her outfit to when she asked if I liked the Dave Matthews Band (I don't). She's also very intelligent and studied. In college there were some girls like her. I never became close friends with them but they were fun to be around in the co-ops and elsewhere. Now I miss them, though probably only as much as I miss being stuck in close proximity to cool people in general.
After we talked over my side fence for around 40 minutes she was late to go round up the other volunteers. There was that goodbye moment I hate and used to work hard to avoid where I think to myself "It's too bad we'll never talk again." I'm still not fond of it but it's been so long I'm glad to have had a conversation that warranted that feeling.
Btw, I'm not gay. Just thought I'd mention that.
VIEW 9 of 9 COMMENTS
fallfromgrace:
I can't think of anyone. I'd probably be free Tuesday though. or Wed. I'd definitely like to play.
geckogirl:
i insist you update before you go out of town.