Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave

The weather being so hot, dry, humid, I’ve been expecting an earthquake for quite some time. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect a hurricane.

Will be interesting to see how this area is impacted, when it lands on Monday.

At the market after this morning’s workout, I noticed a run on bottled water.

I don’t generally purchase bottled water, prefer instead to filter tap water, but thinking better safe than sorry, I picked up four 1.58 quarts bottles of Aquafina, just in case.

And while I’m on the subject of the market … It never occurred to me that the market’s security guard hugging me would be anything other than a one-time deal until, after this morning’s workout, Trainer brought it up, asked "What are you going to do if he hugs you again?"

"Whoa. That never occurred to me".

To hug me again would be crossing a line, so I knew I wouldn’t appreciate it. As to what to do about it … I didn’t at that moment know but, by the time I’d gotten to the market, I’d devised a plan.

Genius idea, a method I’ll be sure to employ, barricade myself from friendly hugs, when next I see him at his station.

My little Stalker is still here … or back again, I never know which.

About to head out to pick up mail yesterday afternoon, I thought I heard Stalker’s voice so, checking the outside through the bedroom window, I saw yes, it was she, running around and snuggling with the cutest little French Bulldog.

She’s got a dog.

Upgraded from stuff toys to a real live puppy.

At the rate that child is being spoiled, I expect I’ll see her with a pony next.

Though I would have liked to have held the puppy, I chose to stay indoors, pick up mail today instead when the coast was clear.

In other news, I’m about to get in big trouble with the neighbors I hang with — let’s call them "The Usual Suspects".

Terrible liar that I am, I’m weaving a tangled web, currently practicing how to deceive them, but can’t figure out a good enough story to keep me from getting in deep — having my name bandied about and being discussed in unflattering terms … mean, stuck up, selfish, adjectives ascribed to me like those ascribed to the Scowler because he too wants to fly solo.

Some weeks ago, returning from working out, I ran into Red Light who handed me a flyer she’d gotten from Activity Director.

The flyer was advertising a 2023 Golden Future Senior Expo nearby — Free Admission, Health Screenings, 50+ Vendor Booths, Free Tote Bag w/Goodies, Bingo w/Cash Prize, DIY Arts & Crafts, Haircuts & Nail Manicures.

I realized the event was my kinda thing, but I didn’t reveal that to Red Light because, by the anticipation in her eyes, I just knew that, if I showed interest, the next words out of her mouth would be "Let’s do a group outing, all drive together”, with me the chauffer as she, and many of the others, do not drive. So, I just kept my face straight, tried not to display a tell.

You all should know by now I’m a lone ranger. That my motto is "She Travels Fastest Who Travels Alone" — no strings, ropes, chains, hangers on to slow me down.

The idea of a group of neighbors, all piled up in the jeep heading to the event, is abhorrent to me, because I don’t want that kind of closeness with neighbors, even neighbors that I like and get along with — the kind of closeness where we go out to lunch together, shopping together and/or to travel to events together.

The Community Room is as far as I go in socializing.

I do plan on attending next week’s event. In fact, I’ve already downloaded my ticket which, since the event is free, just gives me entry without standing in a long line.

So, I wouldn't have to lie to her, I've been really hoping Red Light wouldn't again bring up whether or not I'd thought about and considered going. That hope was dashed when Red Light and Homegirl, in the presence of other Usual Suspects in the Community Room, a few days ago asked if I was going.

I hemmed and hawed — which was already a dead giveaway I was lying, said I hadn’t thought about it, changed the subject by asking if they were going.

They are.

"How are you getting there?".

Homegirl replied, "Access (which is an old people shuttle service) and (with that look of anticipation in her eyes) whoever we can get to drive".

Damn!

More hemming and hawing from me ending with, "I’ll have to see how I feel that morning".

Inasmuch as I will be attending …… alone, all by myself, I can only hope the venue is large enough that I don’t run into any of the Usual Suspects, they don’t run into me.

There are far too many of them to try to hide from, especially if I decide to play bingo, where many of them will also land, so the odds are I will eventually be spotted.

Thus, I’m practicing to deceive, come up with a good excuse … lie.

I don’t think saying attending was a "last-minute decision" is gonna fly, nor will "I just happened to be in the area and popped in", or that "I didn’t think it a good idea to drive together with Covid still around".

This situation reminds me of when, back in the day, I was going out with a guy whose name I can’t remember. He wasn’t important, wasn’t a boyfriend so far as I was concerned, just someone I’d go out with.

One evening, when I’d just arrived home from work, he called, asked me out. I'd had a hard day dealing with those witches I worked for, wasn’t feeling well, so declined the offer. Later that evening, after having decompressed a bit, I felt better so, when someone else called, asked me out. I said okay.

Wouldn’t you just know that, while dancing at the club the second guy had taken me to, I looked over and there was that first guy … just standing off to the side, glaring at me.

Assuming I’d lied to him so I could go out with someone else, he gave me his mean mugging face, stormed out and I never heard from him again.

No loss. I didn’t care about either one of them, but I’d have liked for him to know I hadn’t lied to him. It was just that I felt better after being home, resting a bit.

I’m not comfortable with lying, so when spotted at the upcoming senior event, I should just tell the truth …. "Sorry, but I didn’t want the responsibility of travelling with others. I enjoy being out and about on my own" or offer no explanation at all. Just say "Hello ... Hi Guys", and keep on keeping on.

I’m leaning towards no explanation at all.

Nothing is going to save me from backlash, being talked about, treated as somewhat of an pariah if future events come up but, just like that first guy that asked me out, the Usual Suspects are not important, what they think/say is of no consequence and if I’m never invited to do/go anywhere ever again with them, that just means I won’t have to decline an invitation I didn’t want in the first place.