That was the plan
Scene: At gym.
Me: (to Pez) You know, you’re the same age as a girl I’m hanging out with.
Chuck: (overhears in distance, laughs) “Hanging out with?” Yeah, you two are going to lectures and coffee.
Me: (to Chuck) We do – we discuss Nietzsche!
Chuck: (walking away) Suuuure.
Me: (whispering to Pez) We don’t discuss Nietzche…
Pez: (laughs)
Daisy exited my Venn Diagram, recently.
Been living in the same building for close to 20 years. I’m pretty good friends with the neighboring doormen.
One of them is hinting I should marry one of the female friends/other that swing by the pad. It just makes me laugh.
Larry: Raising a kid, you need a man and woman. You loved Alison, I know. But this doesn’t have to be for love. Think of your son.
I married Alison because we looked at the world the same way. Don’t think I’ll ever find someone that looks at it quite the same way I do again.
Don’t believe in many social constructs but I do believe in marriage.
Both Daisy and Gradgirl do not, which makes them non-starters for me, among other things. Of course, I’m a non-starter for everyone.
Me: I am thinking of my son. I want him to know that if I can survive this, he can survive anything. I’m ok with being by my lonesome. And you’ve known me a long time – if I need company, I’ll find company.
Larry: You’re a father now. It’s not the same anymore, Logan.
Me: Yes. But these are the cards I was dealt, so I play them.
Daisy: Do you imagine if things were different? If I were different?
Me: I always wish everything were different. Everything but the boy.
Her: With us, I mean.
Me: (gently) There is no us, Daisy. None of this is actually real. You’re just getting over something as am I, to different degrees. I don’t want you to be someone that you’re not. That never works out. People shouldn’t have to change themselves to fit into someone else’s world.
Her: He wants to meet up again. (pause) Do you think I should go?
Me: (nodding) That was the plan, right? I was always only supposed to be just a distraction.
Her: Yes. (pause) That was the plan.
Haven’t seen her since. Maybe he’s her person and she, his. We should all be lucky enough to find our person.
Me: So it’s just you and me now. (pause) Are you ok with that? (grinning) You won’t be worried I’ll fall madly in love with you?
Gradgirl: No. I know you’re not available to me. Not like that.
Me: Well, strictly speaking, I’m not available to anyone.
Her: (laughs) I might fall for you, Logan.
Me: This is true. You’ll let me know if it happens? I’ll do the same.
Her: Don’t worry. (thinking) I could never love someone that wasn’t in love with me.
Me: (nodding) That’s how it’s supposed to be.
These are the cards we were dealt. So we play them.
Me: Morning, kid! Ready for the day?!
Son: (yawns, stretches, smiles)
Me: God, I love that face. C’mere you…
Location: with my son in my empty apartment
Mood: wondering
Music: Oh, uh oh, you’re changing your heart
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9 replies on “Non-Starters”
Up to now, I had thought that you were the Asian Hugh Hefner as you always had 20 something year old women always hanging around you. Being a father is wonderful. You’ll make a great one.
Ha – I’m definitely not *that* old.
I love being a father and hope you’re right. Thank you for the words of encouragement.
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