A Cinderella Wind...
...blew across the state on Saturday, and brought with it a magic that changed people into special versions of themselves, if only for one night...
This Saturday I went on a sorta kinda smells-like-a-sounds-like-a-but-wasn't-officially-a-date. Supposed to be a simple "dinner and movie" type evening for a couple of good friends of the opposite sex, but ended up a fantasy evening so lovely I couldn't have scripted it better...and yet there is a bittersweet ending. For everyone knows the story of Cinderella.
My story's Prince Charming is my friend Kenny, and I met him at his house in Delaware at 4 pm. Lots of stressful work stuff happened the week prior and by golly, I was looking forward to a night out with open arms. Plus, Kenny's a unique case in that we're very good friends and we've been dealing with a silly "are we aren't we" thing that even other folks at our church have gotten into asking us about, which I think kind of bugged him a little, as we're not the most perfect pairing, as he is considerably older than me (more than 10 years.) But we both know we are only friends, for now. And I'm okay with that. My options are open.
Kenny's a shy guy, but with just him and I, we always have a great time. It's easier when it's just us, not having to worry about the opinions of others.
Kenny wanted to take me to this little Italian Restaurant in Columbus called Monte Carlo, whose name I loved. He said his family loved it, just talked it up very highly, and I thought it was kind of sweet to want to share a place that holds such special memories with me. It was a unique little place and the food was good. And when the check came, he picked up the tab. This means nothing to most, but I believe that a date isn't a date unless the gentleman treats the lady (and yes, I am that old fashioned.) And by the time we were done, though, we still had several minutes to kill before the movie. So we decided to go and walk around Easton, since i had never been there.
And the Crystal Castle of my story is Easton Towne Center in Columbus. At night during Christmas-time, every inch of the place is covered in Christmas lights. The Facades of the stores, which look like a swanky little town anyway, were outlined in perfect lighting that made every house look like a Gingerbread house. And it was a still, cool night. A perfect night to explore a magical Christmas city. We walked around and talked, cracked jokes and enjoyed the company. Everything was new, and I was a child. But we soon had to run, for the movie was going to start.
The folks around seemed very wealthy, very refined for some reason. Expensive stores, maybe? Anyway, The combination of atmosphere and giddy excitement made me feel older, clearer, cosmopolitan, like a completely different person. He seemed the same; his normal awkward self was gone and he was a fun, attentive, engaging guy. And it was very cozy; were I a more forward person I would have linked arms or took his hand and enjoyed the walk, pretending we were something other than ourselves.
So then we went to the movie. Easton's AMC theatre is incredibly swanky too - you buy the tickets and then ride a double escalator up to the main theatre floor. Everything just sparkled and shone; as seen through the eyes of one enchanted, as I apparently was, by the evening.
We chose seats in the back row out of necessity (the other rows were full) and I left briefly...upon returning, I saw that he'd lifted the middle arm rest between our seats. This mildly amused me, as usually one does that if they intend to cuddle, and I was fairly sure that was not the case. It, of course, wasn't. Not real sure why he did it, but it just added to the whole feeling that it really WAS a date, even though it wasn't supposed to be.
The movie was good, but long. And after it was over, rather than call it a night, we decided to wander the little towne more, window-shopping as the stores closed. The infamous Tiffany's was one of the stores, and we laughed at the enormous vault-like doors. Hard to accurately describe the charmingness of the whole thing.
And then we hopped back in his Saturn Vue (Our carriage?) and we arrived back at his house at 11:30 p.m.
We said our goodbyes awkwardly, and then just before I left, he hugged me :) I wasn't expecting that; I'm a physical person in a non-physical world, so I don't initiate hugs. But he did, and it felt very warm, very cozy. It was nice :) A nice, sweet, chaste ending to a lovely evening.
...and here's when midnight struck.
Sunday morning at Church...we spoke all of 10-15 words. Friendly...cordial...but not like two people who spent a lovely evening out the night before and ended it with a warm hug.
Sunday evening at Church...we did not speak at all.
What else is there to say? Other than, there must be two versions of us, one who comes out on Sundays and one who shows up when we are together. I'm sure there are excuses, but why does it matter?
The real test will be to see what happens next time. See if we go out again. I'll keep you apprised. :)
This Saturday I went on a sorta kinda smells-like-a-sounds-like-a-but-wasn't-officially-a-date. Supposed to be a simple "dinner and movie" type evening for a couple of good friends of the opposite sex, but ended up a fantasy evening so lovely I couldn't have scripted it better...and yet there is a bittersweet ending. For everyone knows the story of Cinderella.
My story's Prince Charming is my friend Kenny, and I met him at his house in Delaware at 4 pm. Lots of stressful work stuff happened the week prior and by golly, I was looking forward to a night out with open arms. Plus, Kenny's a unique case in that we're very good friends and we've been dealing with a silly "are we aren't we" thing that even other folks at our church have gotten into asking us about, which I think kind of bugged him a little, as we're not the most perfect pairing, as he is considerably older than me (more than 10 years.) But we both know we are only friends, for now. And I'm okay with that. My options are open.
Kenny's a shy guy, but with just him and I, we always have a great time. It's easier when it's just us, not having to worry about the opinions of others.
Kenny wanted to take me to this little Italian Restaurant in Columbus called Monte Carlo, whose name I loved. He said his family loved it, just talked it up very highly, and I thought it was kind of sweet to want to share a place that holds such special memories with me. It was a unique little place and the food was good. And when the check came, he picked up the tab. This means nothing to most, but I believe that a date isn't a date unless the gentleman treats the lady (and yes, I am that old fashioned.) And by the time we were done, though, we still had several minutes to kill before the movie. So we decided to go and walk around Easton, since i had never been there.
And the Crystal Castle of my story is Easton Towne Center in Columbus. At night during Christmas-time, every inch of the place is covered in Christmas lights. The Facades of the stores, which look like a swanky little town anyway, were outlined in perfect lighting that made every house look like a Gingerbread house. And it was a still, cool night. A perfect night to explore a magical Christmas city. We walked around and talked, cracked jokes and enjoyed the company. Everything was new, and I was a child. But we soon had to run, for the movie was going to start.
The folks around seemed very wealthy, very refined for some reason. Expensive stores, maybe? Anyway, The combination of atmosphere and giddy excitement made me feel older, clearer, cosmopolitan, like a completely different person. He seemed the same; his normal awkward self was gone and he was a fun, attentive, engaging guy. And it was very cozy; were I a more forward person I would have linked arms or took his hand and enjoyed the walk, pretending we were something other than ourselves.
So then we went to the movie. Easton's AMC theatre is incredibly swanky too - you buy the tickets and then ride a double escalator up to the main theatre floor. Everything just sparkled and shone; as seen through the eyes of one enchanted, as I apparently was, by the evening.
We chose seats in the back row out of necessity (the other rows were full) and I left briefly...upon returning, I saw that he'd lifted the middle arm rest between our seats. This mildly amused me, as usually one does that if they intend to cuddle, and I was fairly sure that was not the case. It, of course, wasn't. Not real sure why he did it, but it just added to the whole feeling that it really WAS a date, even though it wasn't supposed to be.
The movie was good, but long. And after it was over, rather than call it a night, we decided to wander the little towne more, window-shopping as the stores closed. The infamous Tiffany's was one of the stores, and we laughed at the enormous vault-like doors. Hard to accurately describe the charmingness of the whole thing.
And then we hopped back in his Saturn Vue (Our carriage?) and we arrived back at his house at 11:30 p.m.
We said our goodbyes awkwardly, and then just before I left, he hugged me :) I wasn't expecting that; I'm a physical person in a non-physical world, so I don't initiate hugs. But he did, and it felt very warm, very cozy. It was nice :) A nice, sweet, chaste ending to a lovely evening.
...and here's when midnight struck.
Sunday morning at Church...we spoke all of 10-15 words. Friendly...cordial...but not like two people who spent a lovely evening out the night before and ended it with a warm hug.
Sunday evening at Church...we did not speak at all.
What else is there to say? Other than, there must be two versions of us, one who comes out on Sundays and one who shows up when we are together. I'm sure there are excuses, but why does it matter?
The real test will be to see what happens next time. See if we go out again. I'll keep you apprised. :)