For the second time tonight, I have stripped down to my skivvies, hung my jeans on the back of the bathroom door and climbed into bed. This time, I intend to stay put.
I’d spent the day in and out of sleep, doing penance for a night of hard drinking (and pasta making – but that’s a story for another time) and still wasn’t feeling up for a night on the town. It seemed to be epidemic; first Ben then Rachel stole off toward home for an early night in. Sometime before 11, I left Stephanie & co. and made my way uptown toward home, following the siren song of bed and Netflix.
But it was not meant to be.
Around midnight, my phone rang. Five minutes later I was dressed again and meeting my old boss, Susan on the sidewalk in front of my apartment. I hadn’t seen her since I left Boston, so the reunion was definitely worth getting my ass out of bed and down to a local pub for one last round.
We asked the standard questions -- how are you, how’s work, who are you dating – and then Susan told me a story:
Back when we were working together at the Monkey Firm in Boston, I wrote this post about Sue and her tricky relationship with her then-boyfriend David. It wasn’t until much later that she, and then he read the post. By this time, he was already gone and they both wondered whether it was really as simple as it had sounded in writing. So, shortly after, Susan grew tired of wondering, flew to England and proposed. In the end, it wasn’t as simple as all that for the two of them, but she said she was so glad she took the chance to find out. I can’t help but marvel at the balls that must have taken. But then again, Susan’s bravery has always been one of the things I liked best about her. That, and she tells the best dirty stories.
It has to be one of the better, This is How You Know I love You stories I’ve heard in a long time. And I think I like it so much because of its imperfect ending.
That's a very brave thing for ANYONE to do. Good on her!
Posted by: Di at June 25, 2005 04:02 AMthere is so much value in risk at times. it's far more "safe" in the end, because you were brave enough to bother findining out. great story, fish!
Posted by: sassylittlepunkin at June 25, 2005 10:50 AMLoving a story like this with such a miserable ending is awful. I've been your friend Sue. being turned down when you are so exposed is the most painful thing anyone can do.
Apparently she recovered, yet, I don't know if I ever will.
Loving a story like this with such a miserable ending is awful. I've been your friend Sue. being turned down when you are so exposed is the most painful thing anyone can do.
Apparently she recovered, yet, I don't know if I ever will.
Wait, who says she was turned down? I said, in the end it wasn't as simple as all that. In the end, there were bigger issues at play and they didn't end up together. Not every story is going to have a happy ending, but she did it anyway, and that is why I love the story. She's quite happy, incidentally.
Posted by: Fish at June 25, 2005 12:12 PMpowerful that your story made them realise they had to try...
that is a great (well, bittersweet because it didn't have the happy cliche' ending) story
Posted by: S at June 25, 2005 12:54 PMHmmm. I know a very similar story, only it involves a makeup artist in Brooklyn and an actor in London. But he called it off, after dating for 10 years with a lot of cheating in between,or at least a break he said. And now she is 42 or 43 and still waiting for him. At least your friend took the situation into her own hands. THAT's why she is happy. Wish I could tell this woman to do the same.
Posted by: jodie at June 25, 2005 04:52 PMWow! It's interesting that you didn't know about the effect until now. It seems to have made the effect bigger (at least to me).
I know it didn't work out but still very cool...
Posted by: Gary LaPointe at June 27, 2005 01:13 AMBittersweet story, but bravo for Susan! The things in my life I can't get over are the ones I didn't know the ending to -- that whole damn lack of "closure" thing (for want of a better word). Better to find out than to wonder forever. And who knows if their paths will cross again at a better time? I've heard of stranger things.
Posted by: Alison at June 27, 2005 11:33 AMYeah that's brave.
Posted by: Binsk at June 27, 2005 12:03 PMBRAVE? Sounds more like an act of redemption, a chance for Susan to take comfort believing that "even though we didn't end up together, at least I gave it a try". Did she expect a big Hollywood ending? For David, overcome with emotion, to break out in tears and exclaim that, “yes, YES, of course I'll marry you.” As if nothing had changed since the time they were last together?
Is Susan that naive? Or David that dramatic? Then perhaps, but to suddenly show up in Britain, armed with a MARRRIAGE PROPOSAL sounds either a bit naive or, as previously mentioned, a chance for Susan to clear her conscience over a past regret.
Where were the long phone calls? Starting with, "I really miss you, I regret not following you to Britain, let's talk about how to make things work.”
Posted by: Mike at June 30, 2005 01:29 PMMike,
Did you REALLY just read one paragraph and assume you knew the whole story? That's very... well, it's something. Jeez. I roll my eyes at you!
Posted by: Fish at June 30, 2005 01:32 PMWell, no, I didn't assume I knew the whole story. Apologies to the particular parties involved which, at this point, may be inconsequential - I was reacting more to the blind "hurrah" from everyone else's response. Did they read one paragraph and assume that she was "brave"? Just a different take on the situation, that's all.
Posted by: Mike at June 30, 2005 01:54 PMDissention noted ;)
Posted by: Fish at June 30, 2005 01:57 PM