The difference

Friday night, around 7pm, the phone rang. I expected it to be CK, who I had plans with that evening. But it wasn't CK, it was Owen. "Hey! What's going on?"

"Not much. How are you?"

"Good. I got out of work early...so do you want to do something?"

"Yeah, sure, but I made plans with CK. Um, you want to meet us?"

"Sure, ok." We let the specifics wait until I had a chance to talk to CK. After a few rounds of calling, we decided to meet at the Brickskeller in Dupont.

CK volunteered to cancel our plan but I told her that was ridiculous. "He's bringing his roommate and I want you to meet him anyway. It will be fun." She was convinced and was also kind enough to pick me up and drive us to Dupont. We got very lucky with the parking, especially considering that it was almost 9pm when we got there.

The group consisted of Owen, Barry (Owen's roommate) and Nick (a friend of Owen's from work). I thought we were going to eat, and we did get some snacks, but mostly we drank. I was happy to introduce Owen to one of my friends (he has met Pele, but no one else--well, unless you count TR, but that's another story).

We sat and talked and it was generally hilarious. I hope CK enjoyed herself--she seemed to. I sat near Owen, who was talking to Nick, but I couldn't hear most of their conversation. Nick said, "What, are you judging me? Do I hear judgment?"

Owen said, "I never judge anyone! Never!" And then he looked at me and said, "Except for her!"

I said, "That's right! I'm the only one he judges. It's like a goddamn test over here!" We both laughed, hard. Nick looked puzzled.

Barry said something that ended with, "...your boyfriend."

I said to Owen, "He just called you my boyfriend."

"Yeah? I am your boyfriend. And you are my girlfriend."

"Really."

"You're not?"

"I don't know."

(Later I said, "You know, if you're my boyfriend you can't date other people." Owen sighed and said, "I know." Poor guy.)

After we finished our beer and snacks we piled in a cab and headed to Adams Morgan. We barely fit in the cab. The cab driver asked CK, who sat in the front seat, what radio station she wanted to listen to. Barry said, "We don't need the radio!" And he sang--everyone else joined in. I would have too, but I was laughing too hard. Our first stop was Dan's but Nick declared that it was a karaoke night and we would go to Peyote Cafe later. And we did. I had a great time. I like hanging out with Owen and his friends. But, I must say, I can not handle that much drinking on such a regular basis. But next weekend is a big Halloween party...what's a girl to do?

Owen and I took a cab back to my place. I rambled, drunkenly, "You're just a part-time boyfriend. I don't really want a full-time boyfriend. But a three-quarter-time boyfriend would be ok."

"How do I make the move up to three-quarter-time?"

"We have to spend more time together."

"What? The whole weekend isn't enough?"

"No, that's not what I mean. We have to see each other on a weekDAY."

"Oh, like, spend the night? I could do that. I could come over after work. I'd have to leave some clothes at your house."

"Really? You'd do that? You can leave some stuff, that's no problem."

"I'd like to do that. It would be a good change. Yeah, I'd get to see you after work...that would be good."

"Good! Then you can move up to three-quarter time status. Good for you!"

When we got home, I said, "You can see the blog." I pulled up the page and showed it to him. He admitted that he'd already seen it. Last weekend, he used my computer and by pulling down the list of sites visited in the menu bar, he found it. "But I didn't read it, I just figured out the name." I wasn't surprised--in fact, letting him use the computer struck me as risky at the time. I believed him when he said he hadn't read it.

He said, "I don't want to have to read the blog to know you."

"Of course not. I'll tell you what's going on with me."

"Because I want you to tell me..."

I said, "It's just, sometimes, I use the blog to work things out, I'm still thinking about things..."

"I understand...but you have to talk to me."

"I will. I do."

Much later, he said, "If you get engaged...or married, what are you going to do about the blog?"

"What?"

"What are you going to call it? If I were engaged to you, I don't want to read about 'grateful dating'!"

"No, I guess not. I don't know. I never thought about that. But I love the title. It's funny! And I don't even like the Grateful Dead."

"It's a great title. I like it...wait, wait, I have it. When you get married, you can call it 'Grateful Wed'."

"Oh my god, that's perfect! I can't believe it. 'Grateful Wed.' Too much."

Too much, indeed.

We had a great time hanging out on Saturday and said goodbye in the afternoon. I went babysitting in the evening, which was good fun as well. Those kids are a hoot and very easy to handle. Mostly, they entertained me and I made sure they brushed their teeth and read them a book at bedtime. Easy-peasy.

Today, I'm supposed to meet Pele to watch some football. Maybe Owen will even join us. Maybe I'll even meet Pele's boyfriend. It's been another great weekend so far. How did I get so lucky?

Grateful for: understanding friends.

Drop me a line.