This morning I stopped by the Neighborhood Market to get some flavored coffee cream on my way to work. Since I can’t fathom paying $3 for a morning latte, the close I can come to it is flavoring my coffee. Figured since my company provides the java I might as well latte it up.
Anyways, I passed a white small van on my way to the store. On my way back to my car, the driver of the van walked out, said hi and gave me his business card and asked me can I call him sometime. Then I realized why the car looked familiar! I had met this guy while I was pumping gas almost two years ago. He pretty much approached me the same way, gave me his business card with his cell number handwritten on it. I decided to give him a call back then but he acted kinda funny so I never did meet him or talk to him after that.
So when he asked me my name and I told him, and I don’t have a very common name, it didn’t ring a bell to him. Wow. He doesn’t remember me or using the same old line he used on me today. I was amused that probably his MO is sitting outside the grocery stores and gas stations and giving out his numbers to women, because I am very sure I was not the first, two years ago or today to be given a business card by him, flattered, and then asked to give him a call. This time I wasn’t even tempted to call him, I tore up his card and threw it in the trash, where I hope every woman puts it.
I remembered a conversation I had with my therapist when I confessed to her I wasn’t too enthused with the prospect of meeting somebody online. It feels somewhat unnatural. When she asked me where I would rather meet someone, I told her maybe when I am out running, doing grocery shopping or something “normal.” She told me that most men that I would meet doing my “normal” activities would be mostly predators, meaning they are only looking for hook ups and not long term relationships. She was more for me doing the online dating, even though it does require a lot of weeding. I thought she was out of her mind saying that the men I will meet “naturally” are predators.
After running into this guy today, and not forgetting the booty call incident was with a guy who approached me at Wal-Mart, I am starting to think my therapist was onto something.
Whadya thunk? How can I tell a predator from a genuine person? Is it safe to meet men naturally (and what would you define as natural) or is online dating the way to go?
