What man ever forgets his early, fumbling attempts at dating?
It was some time in middle school, probably, or early high school. That girl had finally agreed to go out with you. In your excitement at the "yes," you forgot to consider you had absolutely no idea how to behave.
You were longing so badly for a bit of human contact. You'd seen men put their arms around women's shoulders. Why not give it a try? But this simple act was freighted with so many social pitfalls.
And there was usually a book-bag in the way.
Maybe it was for the best. Resting your arm on the bag turned out to be a decent compromise.
A few years later, and you'd graduated to holding hands.
This was a little less awkward. A little.
Fortunately, any bad memories you had of those early relationships would fade with time.
(Any tattoos you got back then, of course, would stick around forever.)
Eventually, you had some idea of what this love business was about.
Intimacy. Companionship. Conversation. Emotional roller-coasters and long silences, comfortable or not.
You could be a couple, in a world of other couples.
Sure, partners came and went. No one figures this out that quickly. And there are bound to be more uncomfortable fumbles.
But at least you'd learned, more or less, how to be with someone.
Getting more comfortable with your own identity, you found pleasure in letting different people express theirs. You could feel a sense of satisfaction from being with someone who wasn't just like you.
You even got that whole "arm around the shoulder" maneuver worked out. Mostly.
So that's love and romance sorted out, then.
It's all smooth sailing and "happily ever after" from now on, right?
Right?!?
In truth, I suspect this "history" may be obsolete. Do "kids these days" even date, any more? Or is it all texting, snapchat, and Tinder?
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Camera divider and signature illustration by @atopy.
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Fantastic job!
Omg Winston, your "peopling" has gone to the next level! I love how this story played out and you actually gave me some goosebumps with the candidness of some of those photos mixed with your musings!
Well Played Ser!
I've gotten bolder with the camera as I've noticed no one cares. Still, place your bets now for the first time I get punched in the face!
So glad you like the pictures!
Hmmmm maybe if you keep continuing to get bolder you may get assaulted one day hahaa!! No upskirting!
X2^^ I’m reading it with a big ol grin on my face. I don’t know how he does it.
Aw shucks!
Those pictures make me homesick... Then I look at the people!
We need you to come home for a visit and handsome up the place.
The people aren't all bad. There are some beauties too. But as Frank told me, "you'll bore your audience if you only take pretty pictures."
Some of those people you found make Arkansas look good... let me guess- they're from Dorchester!
Hah - could be! Next time I see them I'll ask.
Oh wait no I won't!
I have no idea what they are doing these days! I'm 33 and I already feel too old for dating.
I don't know. Dating is awful. Once I start to have a partner, I already want to go to retirement. End of story.
Do you mean "retirement" like you want to become a stay-at-home wife and let your partner support you financially?
Or do you want to "retire" the relationship and move on to a new partner?
I mean I would like to have a pension! I wanna be old.
that last one...cute dress...
I liked the dress too! I wonder if they were in town for the symphony?
perhaps...or maybe she's a music student...or possibly just likes the pattern of notes. You should be more interactive with the people you're creeping on, some day ;)