Blasts from the Past

I'm so done with Banana, but one last thing to mention is that we were introduced over a year ago. He was the first blast from the past I ran into this month. The other, who I'll name Con-Red, was on the subway with me on Monday.

Con-Red and I met at New York Comic Con last year. I spotted his red hair from across a huge conference room and immediately went into gingervitic convulsion. I HAD to meet him and I HAD to marry him. He had no choice. Unfortunately he was leaving the panel early and I couldn't run after him since I was watching Furbie's 10 year old son at the time. I was cockblocked by a child. Poop.

No sweat though, I had a feeling I'd find him and three hours later I did. I sidled up to him and said "I like redheads" (smooth) and within ten minutes we exchanged numbers and made tentative plans for the following weekend. Score!

Our date was on Valentine's Day. It was the longest date I ever had that did not involve a sleepover. We met at 2pm to see a movie in Union Square (Fanboys, we're both nerds), went out to eat, went to a bar to play pool, then ended up going into Williamsburg to two more bars and eventually seeing his friend's band play. I think we parted ways around 11pm. You'd think this would mean it was a great date, right? Wrong. It wasn't bad, it was just a bit random. He definitely wasn't my type...

Strike one, he arrived in a trench coat with a Blossom pin on it. Like Mayim Bialik Blossom.

Strike two, we ate at Johnny Rockets. His choice. Look, I'm not a snob. I don't need someone to spend a lot of money on a date, but who the hell eats at a chain restaurant in Manhattan??? (Okay, I'm a snob.)

Strike three, he talked the whole entire time except when he asked me about my dating experience. When I told him I never had a serious relationship before he actually asked, "What's wrong with you?!?!?".

Strike four, we were sitting outside by the bonfire at Union Pool. It was slightly chilly yet he was freakishly shivering like a little girl. Gay.

Strike five, he wants to get a huge Alf tattooed on his arm from his shoulder down to his elbow. ALF. From Melmac. The fact that I remember Alf's home planet means I am a total fan of the sarcastic cat-eating alien, but that doesn't mean I want to wake up to him every morning...

Which leads to the final strike. At the end of the night I thought maybe he'd be such a good kisser that it will make up for everything. As we parted ways I went in for the kiss and he pulled back saying there were too many people around. Double gay.

I don't remember anything after that night. I'm not sure if he called, I'm not 100% sure of his name. On my way home from work on Monday I was sitting on the V train looking out the window when I felt someone watching me. I whipped my head around and there he was standing three feet away, staring right at me. I immediately recognized him because of his hair, but I don't know if he recognized me. (I was wearing my glasses and my hair is a bit darker. I'm actually feeling a bit mousy lately, but that's a whole other post.) We both looked away, then he got off the next stop.

I'm still a little surprised I didn't say anything to him. I'm a firm believer that people from your past show up when you need them to, maybe to give you a message or remind you about something from that time in your life. Con-Red didn't rock my world, but he was my first date of 2009. If I hadn't gone up to him at the con, it's quite possible I would have went down a totally different dating path last year. Hell, in some weird way, maybe I should have thanked him for meeting Tat.

So what message did these two guys give me this year? To be strong? Have faith? Keep trying? I'm not sure...

Oooo, maybe it's to trust my instincts again! I didn't doubt for one second Con-Red and I weren't meant to be. I also followed my instincts by not saying hello to him on the subway. The Banana situation was a little fucked, but again, it ended with me realizing I need to trust myself more...

Okay that's gotta be it. Lesson learned! Thanks blasts from the past!