Summer's in Heat
June. Super moons and the beginning of Summer.
June took me back to London. The sensation of flying over the rolling green hills, through the grey clouds and drizzle and landing at London Heathrow was like a homecoming parade. Home.
That is what it felt like to be back in London - it seemed like forever and no time at all since I'd last been back. But what a funny thing, for an American expat (who very much as her home in Spokane, Wa) to feel more as if she were a British expat living in New York.
Upon my return to New York I was quickly swept away to Boston for a swift two day, one night business visit.
Now, friends, I don't know what they are putting in the Boston water there these days, or if it was simple the heat of summer getting to everyone's head, but I managed to be asked out no less than three times in the two days I was there. Despite having spent 9 months as a blonde haired American in an Italian city in my youth that, I believe, is still a record for me.
BUT, leave it to me to attract only the questionable, creepy and old ones.
Bachelor #1 : Could have been my grandfather. He struck up conversation over my new shoes and choice of ice cream, while he sat at the table next to me in the Pru Center food court with one of his peers. The conversation was pleasant and I'm sure his request for a date was all in jest. However, I politely made my excuses and left.
Bachelor #2 : German clerk at shoe store (where new shoes mentioned above were purchased). Happily shopping for shoes, he came out of no here. Literally, I have no idea how he managed to appear at my side so quickly and quietly to ask if I needed any help. Between my brief mutterings about shoe size he managed to tell me how beautiful I was, refused to believe I was American - because of my 'accent', told me where the best clubs in Boston are and asked me out, multiple times - "You're only in town for one night? Might as well have fun, no? I'll show you where the best clubs are." I refused, multiple times. But I still bought the shoes.
Bachelor #3: Have you ever seen that Dove real beauty commercial parody? With the men? "Rapey Eyes"? Yeah, this was him. The time : 6.45 am. The place : Starbucks. As I was working on a presentation which I would be giving in just over an hour from that very moment, he sits down next to me. His opening line? This gem : "You look deep in thought, can I help? You are a very beautiful woman, and trendy; great dress."
uhhhh, wha??? Going through my head at this point, four things : A) who are you? B) No C) please leave and D) seriously dude!? Now, understand, this man looks like he could by my father - so at this point I've managed to meet the whole age spectrum. So, after stressing the fact that I was working, he moved tables. But that was not the last I saw of him. Ohhhh no. Upon leaving Starbucks - literally one foot out the door - he rushed over... "Are you single"?
I say yes and leave without looking back.
Jokes and creepery aside, the flattery of it all was really nice and any girl that says she isn't even a little bit pleased with such attention is a liar. Because the truth is, if I had been even remotely interested in any of the above mentioned men, this story would be romantic and not creepy.
But, perhaps, maybe it was just the summer heat making everyone a little loopy.
I am now finally back in New York and looking forward to spending the next few weeks in the city, enjoying summer and living it up in New York style with free outdoor movies, picnics in the park, swing dancing, white wine and 4th of July fireworks. I am giving myself permission to love New York. To love its people and this place. So squish up close London, Spokane, Florence and make room for the Big Apple.
June took me back to London. The sensation of flying over the rolling green hills, through the grey clouds and drizzle and landing at London Heathrow was like a homecoming parade. Home.
That is what it felt like to be back in London - it seemed like forever and no time at all since I'd last been back. But what a funny thing, for an American expat (who very much as her home in Spokane, Wa) to feel more as if she were a British expat living in New York.
Upon my return to New York I was quickly swept away to Boston for a swift two day, one night business visit.
Now, friends, I don't know what they are putting in the Boston water there these days, or if it was simple the heat of summer getting to everyone's head, but I managed to be asked out no less than three times in the two days I was there. Despite having spent 9 months as a blonde haired American in an Italian city in my youth that, I believe, is still a record for me.
BUT, leave it to me to attract only the questionable, creepy and old ones.
Bachelor #1 : Could have been my grandfather. He struck up conversation over my new shoes and choice of ice cream, while he sat at the table next to me in the Pru Center food court with one of his peers. The conversation was pleasant and I'm sure his request for a date was all in jest. However, I politely made my excuses and left.
Bachelor #2 : German clerk at shoe store (where new shoes mentioned above were purchased). Happily shopping for shoes, he came out of no here. Literally, I have no idea how he managed to appear at my side so quickly and quietly to ask if I needed any help. Between my brief mutterings about shoe size he managed to tell me how beautiful I was, refused to believe I was American - because of my 'accent', told me where the best clubs in Boston are and asked me out, multiple times - "You're only in town for one night? Might as well have fun, no? I'll show you where the best clubs are." I refused, multiple times. But I still bought the shoes.
Bachelor #3: Have you ever seen that Dove real beauty commercial parody? With the men? "Rapey Eyes"? Yeah, this was him. The time : 6.45 am. The place : Starbucks. As I was working on a presentation which I would be giving in just over an hour from that very moment, he sits down next to me. His opening line? This gem : "You look deep in thought, can I help? You are a very beautiful woman, and trendy; great dress."
uhhhh, wha??? Going through my head at this point, four things : A) who are you? B) No C) please leave and D) seriously dude!? Now, understand, this man looks like he could by my father - so at this point I've managed to meet the whole age spectrum. So, after stressing the fact that I was working, he moved tables. But that was not the last I saw of him. Ohhhh no. Upon leaving Starbucks - literally one foot out the door - he rushed over... "Are you single"?
I say yes and leave without looking back.
Jokes and creepery aside, the flattery of it all was really nice and any girl that says she isn't even a little bit pleased with such attention is a liar. Because the truth is, if I had been even remotely interested in any of the above mentioned men, this story would be romantic and not creepy.
But, perhaps, maybe it was just the summer heat making everyone a little loopy.
I am now finally back in New York and looking forward to spending the next few weeks in the city, enjoying summer and living it up in New York style with free outdoor movies, picnics in the park, swing dancing, white wine and 4th of July fireworks. I am giving myself permission to love New York. To love its people and this place. So squish up close London, Spokane, Florence and make room for the Big Apple.