I seem to do a very decent job of rejecting guys and making it abominably clear that it ain’t happenin’, and then being friends with them (or, at least, good acquaintances).
A man once invited me on a vacation.
Well, he asked me about inviting me on a vacation – ‘What if I invited you on a trip?’ kind of thing.
He, we both knew, had something specific in mind for a guaranteed part of that trip’s itinerary, no matter the destination of the trip.
I informed him clearly that, no, it wouldn’t happen – not doing it that way either, man… but thanks for asking, instead of assuming and all that jazz.
And he, naturally, was bummed, but he also got over it.
Years later, we have turned somewhat into friends.
I call him out on his bs, and never hold it against him.
He calls me on the phone, and has slowly begun talking about genuine things with me, instead of the casual, surface-level chitchat most of the world seems to be comfortable living in.
Today, we were just talking about what we were up to this evening and the past week or so, and I was sharing about my nature time here in Madison, and how, since international travel for vacation is not exactly a thing for the next while, I was considering expanding my goal of visiting Texas parks to include other parts of the country… get to know nature here, so to speak.
One of those places is Utah.
In a sneaky and, basically, magical way, Utah is pulsing with glorious natural wonders.
And I want to spend some time with at least some of them.
When I was sharing about this desire, the guy expressed his total agreement, and said that Utah is truly an amazing place for nature.
I casually asked, in a sly yet joking voice, “Do you wanna take me to Utah?”, knowing that he would remember his offer from years back, and he would know that I was making a joke about it.
He replied, with no actual hesitation, and in a voice so sober as I have only occasionally heard from him, “I would take you anywhere.”
Aww… that’s sweet of you, I told him, and we moved on along in the conversation.
It was a simple comment, and, though it could have been interpreted quite differently when not hearing it said, it was clearly a genuine compliment, both in its meaning and in the speaker’s sincerity in speaking it.
It warmed me, hearing that phrase from him this evening.
He knows that I won’t take him up on his initial offer, and so he wasn’t just saying it in hopes of getting me to go – not at all.
He was saying it, because, in a way, he meant it.
And he still wants me to agree to it, his original offer…. a fact that, in its own odd way, warms my heart ever so slightly…
Because it is nice to be wanted…, even physically and sexually…. I won’t deny that it is especially nice to be wanted by someone so entirely desirable as this guy is, either.
And, even for his little bit of genuine meaning it with his statement, it was well worth hearing him say it, and knowing that the compliment of being so desirable was still there.
Especially now, when I’ve been working so hard on my physical body, I appreciate such a compliment (especially when it is absent of the ridiculous vulgarity too many people seem to express so openly these days)… and it is especially sweet, because this guy doesn’t even know how I’ve physically improved in the past year plus, yet he still holds such an opinion of me…
Compliment, indeed, and I’ll take it! 😛
“I’d take you anywhere,” said a deep, kind, and sober voice over the phone… and, for that few seconds, she took flight in the traces of human love found in that statement, and imagined what kind of person would take her anywhere… she doesn’t really see that happening with him, but she believes that someone is out there, getting ready for her and all the absurdity and love she has to offer, and that she is seeking.
Post-a-day 2020
hannah ananas 