from Camping, Saturday night (pt 2) fini

Anyway, so I came back with meat, greenbeans, YukonGold barbecue potato chips (actually, I had those already) and mesquite barbecue chunks for Mike’s little grill. Mike offered potato salad. We were going to be eating well.

Dee was off running around with her friends who were there, and were camped near her. When I told her the menu, she offered to bring dessert – a bag of Skittles. Her favorite candy. Earlier she had told the story of how she bought it to eat at the movie theater, then ended up getting popcorn instead and so she brought the bag out for hopefully a special occasion. I was delighted that she thought to share something favorite of hers with me!

We ate well. The steaks were more medium well than medium rare, but you couldn’t complain about the flavor. mmMMMmmm!!!

I fixed our plates and brought them out to a table she was “holding” for us at the edge of the meadow, still in view of the stage, but not so noisy as to preclude talking. We sat down with the security guards (who were a family, and whom we “workers” had become quite familiar with) seated at the other end of the table, a good location for them to observe the crowd. But, they quickly enough “moved on” to another spot, realizing that we were just going to ignore them anyway. *smiles*

Likewise, Mike joined us. I didn’t mind. As a friend and fellow co-worker (and, marginally, my boss at the event) he was entitled to the same comforts as Dee and I. Plus, I just ignored him as necessary, too. [later, I confirmed that they had, in fact, been a couple a year or two before. That just made his joining us all the more humorous].

Conversation was good. We chatted around a variety of topics, and the discourse contained a “revelationary” feeling, as opposed to small talk, or a single deep thread. At one point, I mentioned my step-father, and she asked how long I had had one. I told about my folks divorcing at an early age, and that my mom and step dad were celebrating their 20th anniversary.

“So, wait… you’re only 32?”

I nodded.

Plunk. Her face was buried in her hands for a full minute, while both Mike and I asked “What?!!” Mike asked, “did I miss something?” She answered, face still buried, “No…” to which Mike said, “That means I missed something.” I assured him, “You did. Worlds are collapsing.” I said this with a chuckle and lighthearted, as I had already dealt with the age thing, and it was a suprise, but it was easily dealt with.

“How old did you think I was?”

“Um, closer to my age.”

I laughed, reassured her I wasn’t offended, and told her the “amusement park” story. We continued to talk, and I felt relieved that we were both “back on the same level” again. Mike left shortly thereafter, in part because we were ignoring him anyway, and in part to return to his duties.

About 15 minutes later, Mike came back over, and asked if either of us had any plans to work concessions for the rest of the evening. Dee was definately done. She was going to enjoy the bands for the rest of the night. I told Mike that I had planned to do the same, but he knew that I was a softie for such things, and could probably watch the barn for a short while.

“Well, John is leaving at 7:30, and I need to go to the south end. Can you watch it until 8 when the owner gets back?”

Sure, I answered. I can hang out at the barn until 8. I asked Dee to gather a seat for me and that I’d join her as soon as I was relieved. Then I went to work the barn.

The owner came, then went to handle a band-related problem. 8 turned into 9pm. I grabbed one of my precious Guiness draught from the fridge, two cups, and headed toward the meadow. I arrived just as the bands ended their set, and met Dee heading towards me, with some guy in tow. “We’re going to take a quick dip. Back in a bit.”

Gnawing on my cheek, I went back to the barn and drank my Guiness by myself.

Thus the evening was set. I didn’t spend much time with her for the rest of the evening, as she didn’t make herself very available. I never got to share her Skittles.

After the last band, I gathered my things, dropped them off at my tent, then went to sit on the beach and journal by moonlight. She and the dude were giggling quietly together in the water. After they got out and I had moved on from that, she came to find me in the beach chair.

“Oh, what a wild night its been. I planned on being in bed sleeping hours ago. Whatcha doing?”

“Just journaling”

“Oh, okay. …so are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a bit of a headache, but I’m fine. How about you?”

“Yeah, I’m okay…. so what are you writing?”

Then there was a brief but long pause. I had really only started writing, I had only just gotten into the swing, and so I only had a few innocent lines written. However, I knew the major content of this entry would be about her. So, what was she seriously asking? It didn’t matter, since at the moment, I wasn’t taking her seriously. “Oh, its just a journal of the weekend. I try to write daily.”

“Oh. Okay. Well – have a good night.”

“Okay, you too.” And I actually started chuckling.

I realize that I blew a window of opportunity when I was stuck in the barn for an extra hour. I had also blown some minor opportunities to compliment her when before we ate she actually brushed out her hair (she had been wearing a pony tail most of the day). I missed the compliments because I wasn’t operating in a flattering or “romantic” mode. We were at a beach, we were nappy. She brushed out her hair. *shrug* But, I admit that I “missed” that one. My fault, but minor.

Likewise, I was stuck in the barn. But based on our bonding through the rest of the day, I expected her to be more sympathetic to my being stuck. Ultimately, I guess I am disapponted that she put getting some tail or my age above the greater components of friendship. And, I know she knows she did that. And, maybe that was the most disapponting part of all.