"Hey, stranger!"

[lumy12]

After doing my routine housecleaning this morning, I had quite a lazy day. Didn't really feel like putting decent clothes and makeup on and going out to a bar 40 minutes away, but knew if I blew off this little shindig I would feel guilty - and I truly did want to see Z, so I made myself get up and go. As always when this happens (faced with the dilemma of being a lazyass hermit or being social), I was glad I went. Had an enjoyable time, chatting with a couple of old friends and meeting a few cool new people. Even got to share my Star Wars/Hayden obsession a little.

But the night was not without weirdness. When I first arrived, I hadn't even entered the bar yet when I heard "Hey, stranger!" - there were other people around but somehow I knew this voice was calling to me. It registered somewhere. I turned around, didn't recognize the source of the voice... until he took off his sunglasses. Holy shit - it was my ex-fiance, a man I hadn't seen in 8 years. I think I smiled politely and said something lame like "gee it's been a long time" - I don't even recall. I had no idea there was even a chance he might be at this little party. We were civil to each other, but not overly friendly, no hugging or personal talk at all. He showed me where Z's table was and we spent the remainder of the evening at opposite ends of the party. I thought that once I had a little alcohol in me I might venture over to talk to him, but he was with his step-daughter and step-grandkids (don't ask!) and I just never got up the nerve - they left before too long, probably because of the kids.

So much time has passed since the ugly end to our relationship... I truly felt nothing when I recognized him. No hatred, no love, just nothing. So him greeting me as "stranger" certainly was appropriate. How strange that it could be so, when once upon a time this was the man I was going to spend forever with. I'm still tripping about that part.

I'm glad I took care with my appearance, I will admit that. Does that count as caring? I guess on a very shallow level.

Stranger. Go figure.

Comments

[meli-in-sac.livejournal.com]

There was this thing on the radio here where the female traffic girl was saying she never went anywhere -- like, not even to the 7-11-- not looking her best for fear of running into an ex-boyfriend. The male DJs called her neurotic, and then all these women called in and said they did the same thing. Does that mean we're all neurotic? It's wonderful when it happens and you look nice! Oddly enough, I never seem to run into mine. Although my friend S. said she ran into an ex (not the current "ex" but the "ex-ex") in Target yesterday. Well not really -- I guess he saw her and almost literally ran the other way. I'm not surprised. He knew she would eat him alive if she got close enough. It's nice to hear those stories, too. :)

[meli-in-sac.livejournal.com]

Oops -- I meant to say she ran into MY "ex-ex." Remember? Mr. "I'm going to marry you" on Christmas morning who broke it off at New Year's?

I guess we're all neurotic!

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't go so far as to ALWAYS try to look good... this area is so huge and all, it's really unlikely that I'd run into anyone I know... I should have suspected that I might run into him there, because I knew the 2 of them kept in touch, but it seriously didn't occur to me. Later that night my friend told me he did wonder if it would be cool that we were both invited, but figured the passing of so much time meant yes we'd be okay being in the same room... no ugly scenes or anything. I'm glad I went - if I had known ahead of time that he would be there I may not have, and I would have missed out on some fun!

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

Even got to share my Star Wars/Hayden obsession a little.

This is so TAME compared to your rabid obsession you exhibit now!!!

but he was with his step-daughter and step-grandkids (don't ask!) and I just never got up the nerve -

Huh...I've never been good with following directions, so I'm asking! LOL

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

I remember this day!

And I ended up with a movie pass, I had promised I would go see something else besides Star Wars ("Kingdom of Heaven" I think?) but I broke that promise, I just couldn't do it. LOL I still haven't seen whatever movie it was I had promised to go see.

And I haven't seen the ex since then. I don't think I've even heard any news about him. I think he still lives in Seattle. But the step-daughter is out here.

You'll actually read a smidge more about him when you get to 2006, when I started doing my filtered "playground" entries (ASSUMING you're going to comment to be added to the filter! Why would you waste the chance to have even MORE entries to comment on? And Nam's not on the filter! Hee!) Though most of that is about "my J." Which is quite similar to Jenny's J in some respects. Heh.

But yeah, he left me for a woman a year older than his own mother. Which REALLY bothered me at the time... before I got to cougar age, I guess. Ha! This woman had kids closer to his age than she was. The daughter got married and had a couple kids so the ex was a step-grandpa.

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

So, what you're saying is you damaged this poor man so badly he needed a mommy figure????

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

He needed a mommy figure because his own mommy is FULL OF FAIL. lol

I take no credit for fucking him up!

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

Why didn't he get the fail icon????

[lumy12.livejournal.com]

You're right! He should have! Here it is, belatedly.

[gizzi1213.livejournal.com]

I really have to keep my eyes on you to make sure you get the icons right! Le sigh....