The question was written in familiar handwriting on a yellow post-it note and stuck to my very own copy of MacGyver, the Complete Second Season. Who loves me indeed! When the package arrived at my office Thursday morning, I’m pretty sure I squealed and did one of those one-legged, hoppy cheerleading moves.
Wheee duct tape!
My affection for Angus MacGyver is paramount. He is challenged only by Thomas Magnum in the fight for the title of Manliest Man Ever, and I’m convinced that any woman who will swear that those fellas don’t make her weak in the knees has to be dead inside. I mean, when MacGyver cracks that top secret military base by constructing a telescope out of the sports page and a watch crystal, even the uptight military scientist lady was all over that.
Swoon.
“I’m pretty handy with a paperclip and bubble gum, myself,” Ben said when I thanked him for the gift to end all gifts.
I laughed. “Yes, I’m sure you are.”
My tone may have hinted ever so slightly at mocking, but that doesn’t mean Ben isn’t useful -- just perhaps not in the same way. When a girl needs help in an elevator shaft, she’d have to go with Angus, for sure. But when it comes to business advice, or cookies and company on a Saturday night, that’s where my TV stud falls decidedly short.
Looking at our rather rocky beginning, it would seem very unlikely that Ben and I would end up as we are. It’s something we acknowledge (though not without the smallest twinge of regret at past errors) and appreciate. I count our friendship among the more worthwhile and important that I have.
And in the end, to be asked the question, Who loves ya? and to know that the answer is, You do! is really something. Something I’ll gladly take over the uncertainty of romance and the headiness of tawdry afternoon affairs. Not that those were a bad way to spend time (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). But it all just seemed so precarious and temporary. We’re stable and reliable and comfortable. And ever the more likely to be around for the Complete Third Season of MacGyver... and of us.
Who loves ya? I do, dude.
* The author apologizes for the extra high sap quotient of this post, but it is very late and she has just seen Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Every girl needs a best guy friend. Gay or straight, those men are our rocks.
And I'm sure the rest of your readers knew who loved you without even scrolling down, too.
Posted by: ~Kabe at June 6, 2005 12:18 AMI'm sure MacGyver loves you too.
Posted by: Jack at June 6, 2005 01:30 AMi definitely can't wait for the Third Season, and i ain't talkin' about macGyver...
Posted by: RazDreams at June 6, 2005 02:43 AMI don't think I post much on your blog... but I've been reading for sometime now. I enjoy reading it. You're an awesome writer.
~Jaime
If you were constructing the perfect man and you had to pick between the two, which would you choose.. MacGyver's handiness or Magnum's 'stache?
I know I'm completely torn.
Posted by: Rylan at June 6, 2005 04:43 AMOkay, I just had to google what Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was, which makes me SO feel like the out of touch foreigner.
In other news, A. MOI, je t'aime aussi, and B. "I'm handy with paperclip and gum?" That's just the cutest thing ever. Shit, I think I love Ben, too...
Posted by: Coquette at June 6, 2005 06:00 AMI love it when you can ask the 'who loves ya' question, and you know what the answer is. Ben sounds so wonderful!
Posted by: Indigo at June 6, 2005 10:13 AMYou guys are sooo cute! (are you sure you're not dating?)
Fish,
I hold a few of my guy friends in a slightly higher regard for my amazing girlfriends. There is one of them that I am very attraced to, but the thought of our friendship being ruined by the hauteness of romance would tear me to shreds.
Sass
Posted by: Sass at June 6, 2005 11:25 AMI bawled during Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
I kept saying "boy these allergies are KILLING me", but my friend wasn't buying it.
I love this post! That's how I am with my friend Dave.
Posted by: Amber at June 6, 2005 12:27 PMFish - I am a lurker on this blog who never had any intention of posting a comment (as much as I love your writing style and reading all of your posts). But don't listen to these naysayers! Listen to your heart. If it is saying all you'll ever be is friends. C'est la vie. But if it says more, go for it! My husband and I are about to reach our 4th anniversary and he was my best friend for 4 years before he ever even heald my hand. And I'm really glad he did - it was worth risking our friendship.
Posted by: kate at June 6, 2005 01:34 PMI thought it was a good post! And how was the movie??? I wanna see it!
Posted by: Binsk at June 6, 2005 01:55 PMSorry, I'm a Magnum PI girl myself. Never liked MacGyver. And the thing with Tom Selleck is he's only gotten better with age. Yummy!
Posted by: Jen at June 6, 2005 02:00 PMi knew it was Ben before i read on..... i think we all know that he loves ya. i am happy that you have a guy friend like that - they are awesome! :)
Posted by: red at June 6, 2005 02:21 PMTotally MacGuyver (sorry, Tom)!! I always thought MacGuyver was the type of guy who tried to make the world a better place even as he was playing spy (like in the first couple of seasons - which were the best, BTW), and if you ever saw him actually hit somebody with his fist, he usually did the "ow, my hand" thing, which was very appealing.... (sigh!)
THANK YOU for letting us know that they actually HAVE the series on DVD now, too! :)
Posted by: lawyerchik1 at June 6, 2005 02:41 PMHave you discovered the glory and wonder of post-MacGyver Richard Dean Anderson? i.e. Stargate SG-1 on the sci-Fi channel?? I loved him in MacGyver, but I adore him in SG-1.
Posted by: TexasGirlLauren at June 6, 2005 03:28 PMOK so you have to choose one:
MacGuyver, Magnum P.I., or Goldner?
Posted by: G at June 6, 2005 04:00 PMIs this like that time you made me choose between sitting on a sidewalk of molten concrete or your lap, and I chose the concrete? Uh huh. Let's not play that again. I HATE to see a man cry, G.
Posted by: Fish at June 6, 2005 04:15 PMMacGyver is definitely the winner for me. My Dad looked like Magnum and well, that would just be weird.
Missin' ya Fishy!
Posted by: whirlygurly at June 6, 2005 05:57 PMSomeone texted me this wknd that the Scripps Howard Bee was on ESPN2. Don't you love the friends who know those little pieces about you?
Thumbs up or down on Traveling Pants?
Posted by: PLD at June 6, 2005 08:25 PMOh, definitely thumbs up! And I'm even married to the kind of guy who let me drag him to it (with our son) and begrudgingly admitted he "kind of liked it" because the girls didn't spend the whole time bashing boys. Plus, he's handy with the duct tape, too. I understand why you love McGyver and Magnum--nothing is as sexy as competence!
Posted by: Alison at June 6, 2005 08:58 PMi too have always loved mcGyver!
Posted by: tinker at June 6, 2005 10:09 PMAHHH! That was the best movie ever! I know the feeling...
Posted by: emily at June 6, 2005 11:22 PMGood to know my MacGyver crush is shared with so many others. I love my guy friends that are handy with a paperclip and bubblegum.
Posted by: rg at June 6, 2005 11:51 PM