Tuesday, August 30, 2005

37 Going On 20

Last night, Ed and I stopped at a casino in California. We wanted to see if our lucky streak was still with us. It wasn't. But, I did have an interesting encounter.

We were standing around waiting for the winner of a $1500 giveaway to be announced. Sadly, it was not us who won, it was this odd looking woman standing in front of us. I turned to Ed and said, "Good, now she can get her teeth fixed." He didn't laugh.

She was with her son, a big oafish looking guy, with blond hair and a mild case of acne. His was about six feet tall with a body that was shaped like a big, mushy pear. I saw him about an hour later at the second drawing for the brand new pick up truck and when he caught my eye I said, "Oh, coming back to win more?" and he just laughed and said "My mother won the first drawing" to which I answered, "I know, I saw her". I didn't mention the dental work I thought she needed.

After dinner, Ed had to go get his player's card, so I was waiting for him by the cash register outside of the restaurant. I look up and I see the Oaf walking towards me. Beeline. Stops right in front of me. And then, he speaks.

"Hi"

"Hi"

"How you doing?"

"Fine"

"Good" (he smiles)


"I saw you over by the drawing, did you guys win the car?"

"No"

"Oh. Maybe next time."

"Yeah. My name is Andrew." (right into the introduction, not wasting any time)

"Nice to meet you Andrew. Do you guys come here often?"

"Yeah. Me and my mom."

"Do you live around here?"

"Yeah, in Campo."

"Oh, cool." (I'm wondering why Ed is taking so long)

"How old are you?"

"How old do you think I am?" (I laugh)

"Um, 20."

"20?? Wow, thanks. No, I'm not 20. I'm 37"

"Really? You don't look it."

"Well...I have no makeup on and I look like crap."

"No you don't." (he looks away shyly and sort of shuffles his feet)

"Well, thanks anyway."

"I'm sorry to say, but you don't look 37."

"Well, don't be sorry!" (laugh) "I think I love you." (I say jokingly)

"I think I love you too." (um, HE was serious)

"How old are you?"

"18"

"18?? And they let you in here to gamble?"

"Yeah, all the time."

"Well, this is only the second time we've been here." (still wondering where the other half of WE is)

"Who?"

"My boyfriend and I"

"Oh." (long pause) "Well, if he ever breaks up with you, you should go out with me."

"OK, Andrew, I'll look you up." (trying to be nice and gently joking with him)

"Seriously, if you guys break up, call me."

Just as he finished his sentence, Ed came back. Andrew introduces himself to Ed, shaking his hand. Ed looks confused. Who is this guy? We decide to leave for the night and as we walk away, I turn back to Andrew.

"Well, nice meeting you Andrew. Have a good night."

"You too. And remember...if he breaks up with you, go out with me."

"OK" (laughing)

As I walk away laughing, trying to get away from my stalker, I am thinking an 18 year old just HIT ON ME! OK, so he was a big pear, but that's okay, he was still 18. Ed didn't find it very amusing. He was baffled by the whole interaction and thought I was being silly mentioning it.


But my point to him was this: It takes a LOT for a guy to approach any girl they find attractive. I give Andrew a lot of credit, at 18 years old, for doing that. Yes, we know that most 18 year old boys are very bold and have no fear, but this kid most likely wasn't. He just looked like the kind of kid that was shy, not really "cool", not very handsome....yet he still went for it. And I was flattered.

Regardless of my best friend when I told her the story saying, "Twenty???? C'mon. You may look young, but twenty???", I will still re-play his words in my head. "You don't look 37, you look 20" (ahhhh) "You don't look 37, you look 20" (tell me again, Andrew) "You don't look 37, you look 20." (oh yeah, that's right) "You don't look 37, you look 20." (come to Mama) OK, so that's not verbatim, but you get the point.


I'm going out to buy the new Hillary Duff album tomorrow.

4 comments:

Lizzie said...

We could all use an Andrew every once in a while. I don't think most guys realize how much we appreciate it those little ego-boosters. Once a guy in a bar told me I look like Kirsten Dunst. Even though I didn't buy it for a second - I'm short with brown hair and let's just say I don't have her figure - it still made me smile.

mango said...

That's so cool - even I don't get hit on by 18-year-olds, and I'm 25! Take it as the huge compliment it is and don't let anyone tell you you look a day over 20!

xxx

Darcy said...

now that's good ego fluffing, right there. When I'm 37, I hope something like this would happen, so I can be smug about it :-D It's nice to feel pretty

Anonymous said...

Don't sell yourself short. This 18 year old is surrounded by other 18-ish folks all the time. He oughta know if you look 20! He's a smart boy.