Bold Move

            I had just worked another overnight at work last night and left around 8:30 in the morning today when the wildest thing happened to me. I’m standing on the corner of 5^th avenue and 17^th street when a guy who I see every so often around the same time whenever I’m on a quick 15 minute coffee run or leaving work after an overnight is standing at the corner across the street.

            It’s so funny because just yesterday I saw him again while I was walking with a friend who left work the same time I did. I basically just commented that I always happen to notice him around this same time. He’s pretty much an average seeming guy; nothing totally out of the ordinary about him in physical appearance and probably does work or go to school in the area which is why I always happen to catch him.

            Anyway, so today I cross the street and he’s checking his phone when he looks up and I catch his eye. I don’t say anything but smile as I pass and then I hear a shouted “Wait!” behind me. I assume it wasn’t for me so I continue on my way when I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around to find the guy standing there. This is how the whole conversation basically happens:

“Hey, do you work at the GAP across the street?”

“Ye…ees? Why?”

“Well, it’s just that I always happen to see you, and have seen you in the window a couple times changing the mannequins and such. Are you leaving? Want to grab a cup of coffee? My buy.”

Silence on my part as I try to wrap my head around what is going on in this situation.

“I’m Dave. I just work across the street and tend to see you in the windows.”

“Umm… Look, I just worked all night, I’m kind of tired.”

“So, I’ll buy you decaf. I just always happen to see you around this time. It’s funny.”

“Thanks, but, no, that’s okay.”

“Come on. I’m trying really hard to put myself out there, and you can’t reject me on my first attempt at this.”

I laugh at this because it’s very interesting how I write on this blog how I wish people could be more upfront about interactions with other people they are interested in and here I am denying him. Before I give him a definite answer, I look around for the hidden camera to make sure this wasn't some Youtube prank.

“Sure, okay. I’m Max.”

Guys, I could not make this up even if I tried. It was kind of incredible that this actually happened. We walked the block up to Union Square to the Starbucks where as promised he bought be decaf (actually, he bought me a hot chocolate lol). He’s a playwright but works in retail like all us writers out there and lives in Brooklyn. We exchanged numbers but I’m not sure how to wrap my head around this whole situation. I actually highly commend him on his approach a little weird as it was. How very strange but all anybody wants. I definitely went home feeling very good about myself. J

The Unexpected Proposal

            It actually happened today. I was a witness to a couple getting engaged. I didn’t know either of the people since they chose to do it as I was walking by drinking a coffee and took a detour through Union Square to catch my train. A couple had been walking in front of me when the guy stopped suddenly pulling the girl back buy the hand at bit since she hadn’t noticed and continued to walk on. I, who has a natural tendency to walk at a hurried pace (that’s growing up in NYC for you), bumped into the girl and immediately apologized when we both turned around. I to check on the girl and make sure I didn’t get coffee on her sleeve, and she to see why her boyfriend stopped walking.

            It was then that we realized that he had gotten down on one knee still holding her hand. I quickly recovered my shock in that I was still standing far too close to the girl and backed away a little to give them some room. Now everyone in the area noticed that he was on one knee and I truly believe that a wedding proposal is the only way to get the city that never sleeps to stop and pay attention to someone other than themselves.

            He was telling her that she was the only one for him and he didn’t care if pure strangers knew that they belong together because no one will ever come between them. It was very romantic, it a grand gesture kind of way. So he asked her, and she said yes, and everyone clapped when they kissed and of course I was still shocked. The best part of the whole situation is when the guy announced to the crowd that they had plans for the entire day, starting first at Tiffany & Co. to pick out the engagement ring.

            Having grown up in the city, you would think that engagements and proposals happen all the time since there are eight million people in this city. You would think that more people get engaged to every day. I’m now 25 and have only been to two weddings: one a lesbian commitment and the other to my friends Jon and Arielle.

            Growing up I never thought that I would get married. I said that when I finally was okay with being gay and knowing that gay people weren’t allowed to get married, legally. Now that we can get married in NY, I’m sure I want too, though I am glad that I know have the option of a divorce. That is probably a lot of silly thinking by someone who is only 25, but who can say what happens in the future. All I know is that I would love for someone to be as romantic with me as that gentleman in Union Square was to his know happily engaged fiancé.