People always say, don't let that one get away! I often hear stories of people meeting their significant others in grocery stores. Hell-my own parents met at Walmart at checkout, or as my Dad likes to call it, "Wally-mart". So, we, as "young people" are expected to go in to grocery stores and strike up a conservation with a stranger. Newsflash- were not in 1985 anymore and most of us are doing our best to pretend to look busy on our cell phones to avoid simple, supposedly awkward, conversation with the cashier or better yet those next to us. What a sad world we live in my friends.
Today I attempted to perform the opposite of most people in our generation- I braved the simple, awkward, conversation- mostly because my neighbor in line was a cute Patrick Dempsey look-a-like. We had made the ever-so-awkward eye contact, meaning I must move forward in order to de-awkwardtize the situation. Brown-haired boy placed his avocados and paper plates behind the divider separating my diet pepsi and frozen dinners (yes, I know the frozen dinners look pathetic) from his interesting selection. I commented on his choice of check-out items. Patrick Jr. then proceeded to tell me, "Yeah, I kinda wondered what people would think of me as I carried them around..." I took this as a cue to play the "What's his story game". "Well, my guess would be...you're having a cookout and using the avocados for something tasty." Patrick Jr. smiled and said, "Wow, you're good, close! It's for a graduation party actually." I thought to myself, wait you're kidding how is this going so well I should talk to people in grocery stores more often I wish I was in the 80's where this is normal, pausing with a sigh- I SO belong in that time period. I then met the cashier at checkout (sadly) and grabbed my bags telling Patrick Jr. to have a good time at the graduation party. I walked out the door and thought of any way at all I could stall so we could meet again in the parking lot (sounds desperate, but do NOT sit there innocent and pretend like you wouldn't do it). I decided to walk slowly to my car, place the grocery bags in the trunk (something that I never do) and walk the cart to the furthest lane in the lot. I came bag and Patrick Jr. still was no where to be found. I got in my car, turned the air conditioning on and began staking him out (I promise, I'm not a stalker as bad as this sounds...). I made one loop around the lot and stopped at the stop sign waiting for others to come out. Finally, Patrick Jr. came out looking sharp in his white button up and red tie. He smiled and waved good-bye to me. That's the last I saw of him- but hey, what else is new?
Moral of the story- forget about something being abnormal or awkward and just go for it! Seriously what do you have to lose? A guy saying, "sorry I have a girlfriend?" or "sorry, I play for the other team, but if I was straight I would totally go for you!". Put on your big-girl panties and live a little. If we don't start being as brave as our parents were in the 80's population growth will begin to decline and blah blah blah.
You're a lot less awkward then you think and situations are only as awkward as you make them.
Don't regret moments like this people or you'll end up making excuses for yourself.
P.S.- I'm currently trying to overlook my regret for not falling madly in love at a grocery store by telling myself Patrick Jr. is in high school (hence the graduation party...), gay or has a lisp. Who am I kidding none of those things are true and I just let the love of my life get away.
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