It hasn't always been that way of course, and several encounters I have experienced in the past have been very enjoyable, even long term as it pertains to me. In one in particular, I became fruitful and multiplied (Hi 'Lyss!).

There is a small pub downtown (where everybody knows your name unfortunately) that I frequent to steal thoughts and develop scenarios, as do some other writers who occasionally occupy this space.

A few weeks ago, I encountered a lovely woman, unknown to me, yet apparently I was familiar to her through some transparent high school encounters. I was Grade 12 to 13 at Glenview at the time and she was Grade 9 to 10 at GCI (age becomes irrelevant all these years later). Though I lived at the time in the GCI district, there was no way I was going there (no offense). So, she saw me on the city bus occasionally hauling my hockey equipment over to Duncan Macintosh Arena for a GCI defeat. She called it a "crush". I was flattered and embarrassed.

We talked for several hours with easy, casual conversation, discussing the things relevant to life...kids, work, interests, relationships, the whole gamut of bar-time small talk. In a brief period of time, we struggled through the exhilaration of newness, the tug of war of setting stage and boundary, and the emotional aspects of possibility best left to the brave or stupid.

We met a few more times and though no carnal knowledge was ever shared, the possibility lingered in my mind (call me old school). I am now patient.

The chill in the air was immediate and palpable. The pleasant, flowing conversation stopped. I actually shivered. And many, many words float suddenly through my head, like shallow (in the feminine), and hollow and empty (in the masculine).

My income does not define me, my place of residence does not define me and I am definitely not defined by an automobile (tattooed, bent and bruised perhaps, but...).

Reflecting later, after I excused myself from the bar, I thought it very unfortunate that her focus on vehicular status took such precedence in this forming of a friendship and could stand in the way of what may have been a successful relationship.

This is cache, read story here