What sort of a name is Calliope? It’s not. It’s a musical instrument. Who names their darling daughter after a musical instrument? My mother. And I love her to pieces. Maybe not for my name but it could have been worse. Right? I definitely wouldn’t want to be named flute…or oboe. Ugh I’d cry if my name was tuba.
Alright I take it back. Calliope is a beautiful name, almost like a song. You can sing my name and you have a chance at not being laughed at for it. Not that I’ve tried.
Anyways, on to more important things. I have met someone. A boy.
Oh goodness. I just shrieked in the diner I’m at because I’m so excited. Kill me now. Everyone is looking at me funny. And I didn’t even sing my name! Maybe if I shrink down and silently do a happy dance everyone will forget my outburst.
So his name is Nate. And he isn’t like what everyone always says that they want when searching for their one and only. You could call him Aladdin. I could! A nickname. Maybe I should clear that with him first. Anyways the reason I brought up Aladdin is because of what he is called in the movie. A ‘diamond in the rough’. That’s Nate.
Now, that is not me saying that he is ugly. I’d say he looks normal. He just doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold of prince charming.
And the more I get to know him, the more I am so glad he doesn’t. He isn’t ashamed of his quirks and he has patience with mine.
I’ve always struggled to get out and be social. I’d rather just stay in and read a book or watch a cheesy romance movie. Hanging out with friends is fun and exhausting. I feel like it takes me a day or two to recover from being social. Yet when I am with Nate I don’t feel like I am going out of my way to be social or have to plan out time to ground myself afterward. I just am.
I’m even getting more comfortable with him knowing I’m not perfect. Shocker, right?! Every woman wants her man to think of her as perfect, right? Not me.
Perfection…all the time? What an unrealistic expectation. And how exhausting. No wonder I feel stretched out and worn thin when I even consider dating a person. Feeling like I am failing someone else’s expectation makes me feel like I am failing my own. And I don’t expect myself to be perfect.
Oh so back to the whole reason I brought this up. I’m in love and I have to tell someone about it.
The main problem is condensing the meet, first date, and the next few months of awesomeness down. Or maybe I shouldn’t. A book? I could write a book!
Hmm so I have to tell you parts of it now though because I might burst if I don’t.
We met at one of those super awkward social mixers for singles. I know, right. Anyways. I was standing next to the cookie table, consoling myself with sugar. No one would even talk to me, not even the women.
How horrible is that feeling when you are watching everyone else talking to a friend, group, or even a stranger and have no one to talk to because you don’t know how? Seriously, though.
I was standing there, alone, for at least 10 minutes. And I had promised myself that I wouldn’t get my phone out at all unless it was to put someone’s phone number in it. So that added to the stressful loneliness of it all, but I was determined to at least keep the promise I’d made to myself. I wouldn’t want to go home after and regret playing on my phone for an hour, not knowing if I might have met someone great if only I had been looking up.
And back to the story. Sorry for all the side notes. Think of it as me adding dimension to the story or something.
So I was about to head out of that stupid mixer with a firm resolve to never go to one of these things alone ever ever again when this guy walks up. Only an inch or taller than me, sandy brown hair with maybe a few streaks of sun through it, and brown eyes; this guy might not have caught my attention if I hadn’t desperately been wishing for someone to talk to me.
I am just not good at approaching people and starting up a conversation out of nowhere.
So he came straight up to me and said hello.
After managing to get out a hi that even sounded mildly flirty I took as subtle of a deep breath as I could manage.
“I’m Nate. I just got here so I’ve missed out on most of the evening. However, imagine my surprise when I saw you standing here without at least 5 other men hanging on your every word. Did I manage to catch you in between admirers?”
“Something like that.” I laughed. Maybe it is my nerves coloring my view of the evening but I think I sounded shrill. He didn’t flinch though so I am going to overlook my judgment of my laugh.
“Could I maybe get your name before some dashing prince comes back with your drink?”
“Oh, I’m Calliope. And no one is coming.” Pretty sure I blushed.
His grin widened. “It must be my lucky day then. And since luck seems to be on my side I think I will take the opportunity now to ask you out and if you decide I’m too weird you can cancel.” Nate cleared his throat dramatically. “Calliope. Will you be so kind as to agree to go on a date with me this coming Friday night?”
If you really are still wondering, I did say yes. The date was amazing and it’s been a blast ever since. Hard and real conversations included.
Ok so you know at least a little of what’s been going on in my life. I’ll update you more soon. Talk to you later!
