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He was going to show me Spring
by jean at 12:36 PM on July 19, 2005
A few weeks ago one of my best friends, who lives in another city, asked me, "So what's going on with your boyfriend?" She was joking, because I don't have a boyfriend. But there are usually some boys in my life. Right now, there are a lot of boys, so when she asked I became confused. Finally I said, "Which one?"
She laughed: "Geez Jean, how many do you have?"
I don't have that many. Really. There's the one who always notices when I wear my nice outfits. He gives me puppy-dog eyes, but his sense of humor is a bit crude... it turns me off. There's the one who also does the dreamy eyes, but never seems to be having a good day. I'm not into all the angst. There's the one who disappeared when his dissertation ran into trouble. I liked him. And finally, there's the one around whom I can't seem to think straight. I can't get it together around him. I think he's just playing me for a sympathetic ear. My friends all hate him, everyone says I've been played, and still when I look at him my sight is obscured by some kind of dark haze. It makes me stay out until three in the morning with him. It makes me let him drive cross-country with me. Is my girl-fu good enough to snare him somewhere in between Los Angeles and Chicago? I wonder.
Yes, I'm moving to Chicago. I got into a Master's program. It will take one year to finish, and after that I will either stay to work in Chicago, or apply for a Ph.D. program. I miss L.A. already and I haven't left yet. I've lived here since I was a baby. My world is here: my favorite stores, the streets I've known for decades, the landmarks. The people, although that doesn't include all of my friends anymore. The life... Big Bear when you want to see snow, Venice when you want to see sand, the Standard for yuppies, Las Vegas for sun-baked dissolution and great buffets. Pho and Taiwanese ice joints. French-Vietnamese sandwiches and tamales flown via carry-on from Guatemala. Things I enjoy.
I can't complain, though. My life to come is going to be very exciting. I'm going to be studying with some amazing people. Two of my best friends are in Illinois, and Chicago is of course Chicago. It will be good. The boys will have to stay behind. Except the one bastard. Chicago is his hometown.
comments (11)
Chicago. Say hello to Richard Gere and his gerbils. What a change! Do you own any winter clothes? I mean, real winter clothes like parkas and long underwear?
by anna at July 19, 2005 7:41 AM
It's going to be a big change. I have some long underwear, but definitely no parkas. Richard Gere lives in Chicago? I didn't know that.
I am going to be SO unprepared for the weather. I'll have to ask my friends a lot of questions.
by jean at July 20, 2005 2:10 AM
Never underestimate frostbite!
by snaggle at July 20, 2005 5:19 PM
No i think he lives in Tibet with the Dolly Llama. But he was in that movie with Catherine Zeta-Jones. "Can we call you Cathy?" "No."
by anna at July 21, 2005 7:34 AM
No he lives in Tibet with the Dolly Llama. But he was in that movie with Cathy Zeta-Jones.
by anna at July 21, 2005 7:36 AM
Richard Gere couldn't, because the Dalai Lama is exiled from Tibet. China controls Tibet and also the Tibetans' religious activities.
I wonder if Mask of Zorro 2 will be any good. I liked the first one.
Snaggle: thanks! I'll be careful of this newfangled frostbite.
by jean at July 22, 2005 6:02 PM
PS, forgot to give you props for the Tori reference. :D
by snaggle at July 24, 2005 7:01 AM
Hey, I'm in Chicago. If you need any tips on where to get good boots and cheap long underwear, let me know.
Don't worry about the midwest weather! It'll make you tough and strong like bull!
by Shar at July 25, 2005 5:28 PM
Congratulations Jean! Having moved from sweet hip California to the midwest myself in the not too distant past, I can say that I'm sure you'll do fine. Especially in a big city like Chicago. It's taken a while, but I've been able to find Pho, and most all of the Italian and Mexican goodies I was so accustomed to.
by chris at July 25, 2005 10:21 PM
Mmmm, Pho. That is all I eat anymore. Why eat anything else? It reminds me of George Thorogood's classic response when needled about not writing original songs: "Why bother? Chuck Berry already wrote them all."
by anna at July 26, 2005 7:34 PM
Thanks everyone!! Snaggle, that song has been on my mind for weeks now... I'm going to have to just play the album to get it out of my head. Shar, I might be writing you in a few months! Chris, I'm very comforted to know that I'll still be able to eat Pho and Mexican. I know that some of my friends complain they can't find any good Mexican food in New York. I was surprised. And Anna, that's funny. Pho is really good.
by jean at July 29, 2005 7:28 PM