Well - Part XVII

Life is best looked at as a continual series of improvisations. I think the folks that view themselves as “planners” are kidding themselves. The best-laid plans of mice and men… geez, I’m full of clichés today.

My night with Cheryl turned out to be wildly successful. Our conversation quickly became casual. There seemed to be little in the way of the usual first date posturing or awkwardness. The ease in which we were recounting past times that made up the interim between our high school days and the current time frame was almost unbelievable.

I couldn’t recall any times I’d spent with any other person that seemed to leave me with both a joy and a feeling of renewal. I felt driving home that evening that all things were possible and that life was truly something to be savored and most definitely enjoyed. Gone was the frustration and feeling of being put off by my job and society. Gone was the feeling that I was powerless to make any material shift in my own destiny. I knew innately that she felt the same. We parted in the parking lot of the original meeting place with a casual “I’ll call you later” and I knew that we both would follow up on those promises.

When I arrived home that night I was jazzed. I knew I couldn’t sleep but didn’t really want to brave the outside world. I compromised with a midnight snack of Kraft’s macaroni and cheese washed down by a few bottles of beer.

In the morning I had to bite down hard on the notion of calling Cheryl first thing in the morning. I waited all the way until 10:00 am.

“Hey Cheryl, it’s me.”

“I was hoping you’d call.” I was now doing handstands in my living room. Boyhood crush being acted on, dreams are possible, when you wish upon a star… Okay that’s maybe going a bit too far.

“So, what are you planning for this Sunday?” I asked.

“ Not much, just some housework, maybe grade some papers and try to get ahead of the week-ahead’s chores.”

“I see. Yeah, me too…nothing special. I might watch a little football.”

“Oh, I heard from Greg (Cheryl’s brother).”

“Oh, he’s doing okay?”

“Yeah, it seems the crisis is sort of ‘on hold’. It’s devolved into a large scale stare-down. They are all wondering who is going to blink first. He couldn’t tell me much other than to ‘not worry’ and all…”

“Well, that should be a big load off your mind…”

“It is. I was going just a little nuts. He’s the last family I have on the planet.”

“I understand. I’m really happy for you on that front.”

“Yep…”

“I was wondering if you were free Wednesday to maybe make a sojourn down to the city… I can get tickets to see “Wicked” on broadway. I knew I could because my co-worker Stan has an in with the theater there and he’s constantly flaunting it.

“That would be great. Except it’s a school night.”

“I understand. How about the weekend?”

“Friday is free right now.”

“I’ll have to inquire but, hopefully that’ll work with the Wicket show.”

“If not that, maybe something else.” Cartwheels again. She doesn’t even care what we are doing. I’ve made an impression.

“Okay great, we’ll figure something out. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay, fine… see ya.”