GeekForce

About a month and a half ago, I wrote a letter to a lady who loaned me a book she had. She put a mailing address sticker inside the front cover, a very smart practice, which had her address on it.

Inasmuch as I thought (think) her intriguing, I wrote her, and in the very old-fashioned way (ie, the way my dad would have attempted) asked her out to lunch.

She replied, also via regular mail, and explained that she was already seeing somebody.   Totally anticipated.  One, I don’t have much luck anymore (if indeed I ever did) and two, it was definitely worth a try as high-calliber people tend to rub off on me.  That’s the essence of that which is good.

We kept on writing though–I wrote her again, and she returned another letter. It became pretty cool. Actually, it was cool to begin with.  I used a variety of colorful and vibrant stationary.  So did she. 

Anyway, she and I see each other pretty regularly, and there wasn’t/isn’t anything weird about it. We’ve talked and learned a bit about each other.

Recently, she wrote and explained that yes, she’d go out to lunch, and that’s what happened today.

It was a brisk afternoon, but one without a cloud in the sky. The river had small floes on it, and the gulls were taking advantage of their perched vantage points. The river bluffs were bare like they are in winter–she commented on this, but it’s a majestic part of the world.

We went up to The Fin Inn (Grafton, IL–and if you don’t live near StL, you’re missing out). We ate (we’re both light eaters–I used to not be, but ‘trained’ myself to not eat too much anymore)….and we talked for a long while. The built-in aquariums are great to watch–they’re far more dynamic and absorbing than a computer screen or a television. The giant snapping turtle is a tremendous reptile! It’d be a bit of a chore to pick up up out of his ‘private’ tank, and that’s IF the jaws in his giant head could be immobilized. Fresh, swimming, sturgeon is something humans see very seldom. You could take a fifth-grade (or fourth, or sixth, or third, etc.) on a field trip here–square the kids away with chips and soda, clear the adults out, and let them explore. They’d be wrapped up for hours.

Back to my date, and we all know this: the very prettiest ladies are ladies who accomplish it effortlessly or without even knowing that they’re pretty to begin with. Add sweet disposition to the mix, and that’s a remarkable woman.

I mean that–think about it. It was a treat to be across from her talking, and with her in the car, next to her, if only for a couple of hours (if even that much). Most guys simply don’t ever get such an opportunity, but for whatever reason, I did today.

I’m calling this event ’safe’. No infringing, no awkwardness, no probing into unwelcome subjects, and no testing of boundaries. All we did is make each other think and learn a bit from each other. I’m also calling it an experience that was equal parts terrific and refreshing. Great company, even for a moment, is worth a staggering fortune.