Stood Up, But Not Let Down

So It happened. I got stood up.

I’ll wait while you collect yourselves…

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Are you still breathing?

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Still shocked?

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Okay, I can’t keep this shit up anymore. Gather yourself and let’s work this through…

Early last week, Kurt and I planned to meet on Friday afternoon, since I would be driving into the city for a cooking class anyway. I would stop in Oak Park and we’d rendezvous at a pub near his office. Timing was a bit tentative at first…I preferred to meet around 3pm since I needed to be downtown by 5:45. I felt that two hours would be sufficient to tell me what I needed to know. Eventually we settled on 4pm because he knew he had a conference call until 3:30.

Traffic sucked, as it always does that time of day, and he texted to ask me to tell him when I was close to the destination. At that time, I was 15 minutes away (which I told him). It put my arrival at EXACTLY 4pm. He replied that he was eager to see me soon.

So I walk into the bar and…there’s no one there matching his photos. I text him to let him know I’ve arrived.

No response.

I text again a few minutes later “Am I being stood up, lol?”

Finally a reply: No, he’s sorry but the boss called him into another meeting. He’ll try to get away as soon as he can.

Okay, I tell him. I have to leave at 5pm to get where I need to be…

He responds that he hopes to be there by 4:30.

Ten minutes later, he texts to say he’s still stuck (it’s 4:30 at that point). I remind him that I need to leave soon. He claims he’s doing his best and really wants to meet.

Needless to say, I left at 5pm.

He texted me during my drive downtown to apologize. I couldn’t respond because I was driving in #%$& Chicago traffic, plus I didn’t really WANT to respond.

Anyhoo…

During the course of this bullshit, I’m chatting with THAT GUY, who kept me company while I waited. We chatted about choking chickens (literally, not figuratively) when I suddenly realized that while I was annoyed,  I was not particularly disappointed. I was MORE upset that I had to sit in traffic and that I panicked about being on time (one of my many, MANY neuroses).

He texted me once again today, around noon (see screenshot below).

So now what do I do??

In my earlier days on AFF, I made a promise to myself that if I were stood up or if a man canceled on me with LESS than 24 hours notice, he wasn’t going to get a second chance. Remember: I’m driving 90+ miles; it’s not as if I’m right down the street. Barring a major family disaster or an accident of some sort, there’s NO FUCKING REASON NOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER COURTESY. [Segue: I used a semicolon properly (see above). I think that deserves some kudos].

So the question becomes…does Kurt deserve a second chance?

Normally in this case, I’d say “yes”, but only because we’ve chatted extensively and he’s not the type to be wishy-washy and insensitive. Do I believe that he got caught at work? Yes. I do. And do I believe that he wants to meet me? Yes. I do. Plus, he maintained communication- he didn’t just  default to radio silence. Then again, allowing this type of leniency leads to setting a precedence for future behavior and TARDINESS MAKES ME STABBY.

But there’s yet another variable at play here.

[Dum dum DUM! [sinister music to foreshadow the impending plot twist].

There’s Rick.

And Rick is pretty fucking great.

Which begs the question: Do I even NEED to meet what’s-his-name??

Well, I knew that Rick seemed to be a better choice and combine that with Kurt’s faux pas, I’m thinking (as Gandhi would put it) “Hells naw!”.

Unless Rick shows up with needle marks, missing teeth and a penchant for using the phrase “cray cray”, I’m pretty sure he’s the winner by a long shot.*

*No guarantee is implied or offered in conjunction with this promotion. Many  will participate, only one will win. Please consult terms and conditions for full description of rules. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Rick and I have plans to meet for coffee next Wednesday. I scheduled the meet for mid-morning on a day when I have an appointment at noon: gotta cover my bases in case he turns out to be a member of the Manson Family. We’ll see what happens, but I’m optimistic.

And as for Kurt…

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Kurt who?