Gentlemen of New York

Quick recap of niceties from men I have met in New York City:

#1 & #2 - my roommates, Mr. JD and Mr. SM. These guys I have found on Facebook are helpful, respectful and I have a good time hanging out with them. I lucked out.

#3 - Mr. F. I hung out with an old coworker and met her friends. One of those friends also brought his friend and we were sitting next to each other at the bar. I took him up on an offer to grab a drink and show me around. 

He lives in Bk but he drove his car and he offered to pick me up in UWS. Then we went to a bar in LES, then a bar in Bk, then finally Newark, NJ. He also drove me home. Oh the way out of the last bar, his friends were telling me he was a good guy. It didn’t feel like a date but was it a date?

#4 - Mr. J. He helped the musicians load their cars. He made sure cars didn’t hit me in the parking lot. He ordered a car to take us to a bar. He bought me drinks and kissed me. 

I had complained about the event I worked on Monday. In hindsight, obviously, it wasn't bad. I wouldn't have had the same ending at the reunion concert, opening night or movie premiere. Well, perhaps the movie premiere, but it's not time for that magic to surface.

So now let's see how long I'm to be pursued and how long it takes to convince me to let my guard down.

#5 - Mr. M. I sat next to a dad at a show. He brought his daughter and her friend to the city to celebrate her birthday. He was fascinated by my moving to New York story. He would ask questions that popped up in his head. I asked about Philadelphia. When I visit the baseball stadium, he recommended Tony Luke's and said I could eat cheesesteak from anywhere.

#6 - Mr. R. Also a creator. Also from work. He asked me to drinks. Not sure what intentions are, and we'll see.

#7 - Mr. B. One of the doormen. I hope he gets a granddaughter one day. And it's greatly endearing to hear how much he loved his wife, who sadly passed.

#8 - Mr. J. Another doorman and a cutie. As in the first guy I crushed on and was crushed when he mentioned a girlfriend

#9 - Mr. JR. Admittedly, I'm thinking about him and wondering if I should open that up. It was bad timing last time. But is it a step backwards?

A few reflections from these interactions:

Should any romantic unions occur... I don't know how to finish that because in my mind, I wasn't going to do anything until next year. Yet, that's not where life is taking me. Can I live a sex and the city life? Is that me? Is it going to be me? Can I impress people with things I say? Do I have to be calculated. I'm not trying to impress you, I'm trying to be myself. I want to be comfortable in that.

And some shitty encounters:

Shake shack guy, spitting guy, and what author guy. Oh, and change on the train guy.

First, don't hit on women in a subway. It's just not cool. I'm already on such high alert and I'm trying to get somewhere. DO NOT APPROACH.

Second, I don't like it when you ask about my nails. Is that pickup strategy in some handbook for douchebags? 2 persons asked me that on different occasions.

Last, and most important, NO MEANS NO BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ASSHOLE. I didn't ask you to come up to me. I certainly don't think it's fair for you to be upset and yell at me or spit at me if I don't care for your attention.