today is my ex-boyfirend ej's 33rd birthday.
we started dating the summer between high school and college. i was working at carlson's corner and he would come in there every night and ask me out. i said no. no. no. then finally his persistance started to seem cute.
our first date consisted of dinner and then watching the "three amigos" on his boss' boat "the dorado" in brielle.
we had been dating only a couple of weeks and he had to go away for a week, then he came back on july 9th, arrived at my mom's house where i proceeded to open the door... with a shaved head and sprouts (braids that "sprouted" out of my head - out of a triangle shape, a square, and a circle shape - i named them "russell - he was the small one- fred & kook)
he said "hey, new haircut?"
mr. republican going off to scranton. clean cut. reminded me of my dad. fell for him.
we saw each other on and off, holidays and such, but we wound up experiencing college and dating other people... but we always stayed in touch and talked.
my favourite chat with him was one night sitting on the lagoon in his adirondack chairs smoking cigars and yapping about life while curled up on an august night at 2am under woven blankets.
then in the fall of 1998 i got a phone call from him... informing me not to make plans on january 15th, 2000
i was going to his wedding.
i went and i drank. and i drank. i was the only ex-girlfriend there. i sat with his friends from scranton who i remembered from the time i went up there.
then the moment during the reception that single girls either love or hate...
the bouquet toss.
i was forced out on the floor with 25 others.
i never raised my hands except to shield my face.... that's when his bride's flowers smacked me in the head.
and my jaw dropped.
and i tried to hold in tears (i succeeded at that)
my boyfriend cringed.
ej looked shocked.
his wife looked pissed - she was aiming for her friend.
and i carried it back to my seat.
and drank jameson's and ginger ale.
then i danced. and ran into ej's parents - whom i love - and i slurred something to the effect of "it's ironic that i of all people caught the bouquet, isn't it? ISN'T IT?"
they were tipsy too so i don't feel bad.
ej has 2 little girls now.
and he just turned 33.
