"He's just too nice..."

I'll chew him up and spit him out alive! by Kathie

OK Greg, you're right - I need to add my side of the story here. I think the title says it all, no? The challenge is, I never tell short stories, so finding the time to sit and write this stuff isn't necessarily easy.

Anyway, let's get down to business... John. Sometimes the best things are right in front of one's face and aren't readily recognized.

Neither John or I are sure when we may have met the first, second or third time. Our lives, we figure, have been moving in concentric circles throughout - although John is older, so he had a head start! ;-p In fact, as John pointed out, we do have a freakish amount in common, although thankfully, we've determined we are not brother and sister!

For instance:
- When we were born, our houses were within walking distance.
- When John's family moved, they moved slightly north and to the other side of a major street. While still only a mile apart, we went to different schools, yet had his family not moved, John and I would have gone to the same high school - Earl Haig. Instead, John went to our rival - A.Y. Jackson. (I'll forgive you, Johnny).
- As a teenager, I worked in the Library at Bayview Village; John likely came into that library or at very least, the mall, which was just down the street from us both.
- My only sister is the same age as John's second eldest sister, Nancy, and 18 months younger than his eldest sister, Anne. Funnily - they all hung out at the Algonquin (`The A`) Tavern in high school. (I wonder if our parents knew that?!)
- Our parents' Wedding Anniversary is a week apart (same year, a week apart!).
- John's dad and my dad are nine days apart in age; both are Chartered Accountants.
- John and I are two years and 12 days apart in age. We both share the same Astrological sign, as does John's mom.
- We are both the youngest child.
- We know some of the same people from high school.
- We figure we attended some of the same parties in high school, although I wouldn't have likely spoken to John because I was shy; he wouldn't have likely spoken to me because of my blue and black mohawk, combat boots, kilt and torn nylons!
- We liked the same music and went to some of the same concerts in high school - although I went to more!
- We both lived away from Toronto at approximately the same time.
- Life circumstances found us moving back into our respective parents' homes in our 30's, and at approximately the same time. So to recap, we again lived less than a mile apart. Strangely, we also purchased condos and moved into them within a week of each other.
- We ran (and continue to run) out of the same Running Room.
- We are both triathletes, and clearly by John's account above, we were both slower cyclists.

The list goes on...
but the point is, one day we met and actually knew it. Our hobbies (finally) drew us together, the planets lined up and allowed us to meet. Well actually, we met twice, but one day we finally spoke about things other than how far back we were from the rest of the cyclists we started out with. As an aside, John's account of the story is correct except he couldn't know my side of the story - yes, I did slow down and ask if they needed help. In typical `guy` fashion, they all said "No Thanks!" (the implication being - "we are men, we don't need help changing a tire..."), however, what John didn't know is what I was thinking...and that was "Oh good! Here's my chance to not be last anymore! I'm going to keep going but I'll slow down and hope they don't need me to stop, or I'm doomed to be last!!!" (and Myles - there is absolutely nothing wrong with being called Myles! Sure beats "Bobo!)

When we did speak, and as we became friends and got to know each other better, there was a nice chemistry between us. John was just as easy to be around as he says I was. It was nice and refreshing. And, he was funny - we both have this quirky sense of humour that somehow, we "get." BUT...I was single. I was taking a break from dating and relationships and just enjoying life on my own - it was simple and predictable that way, and free from potential hurt and disappointment. Plus, I was having fun - I didn't want to muck things up by getting involved in something. Poor John - did he have his work cut out for him or what?!

Lucky for John, I also had several girlfriends who...let's just say...were on his side, and strongly encouraged me to stop being so stubborn and go with the flow - else I may loose out on something, and someone, really amazing. John joked that he was paying off all my friends (as well as my sister) to convince me to date him! I kept saying "but he's too nice..." and "I'll walk all over him..." and things like that. Well, something worked and finally I listened... and you know what, they were all right!

Sometimes things do go the right way... and nice guys are pretty good, too! At least, I'm hanging onto this one!

Added on Mon, May 18th 2009