I did not know I was lost

Getting things ready to move means I am running into things I haven't seen in years. Yesterday I found my Franklin Planner diary from 1995. I read through some pages, and then threw them out. Probably Mr Franklin doesn't approve, but I can't take everything with me, can I?

In those pages were some of my most fun times. I was working out at the gym almost every night, and making friends with a passel of gorgeous gay young men. The Barbie Dolls didn't want to make friends with me because I was older than them and didn't do my makeup and hair in the bathroom before working out. I went to the gym to get in shape, not to see how pretty I could look while standing around holding a water bottle. I did a lot of step classes, and ran into the same guys on a regular basis. In no time, we were out having dinner, lunch, going dancing at local gay bars, and having girl talks. One of them and I used to go to the mall and watch the guys walk by. He and I were pretty close friends for years. Another was quite young, and very charming. I ran into him while shopping for my first cruise. He held a dress up in front of himself in the store where he worked to show me how it would look on me. Once I stopped laughing, I told him he looked familiar. He agreed, and we realized we worked out together.

The second guy and I, Kris, used to run into each other every where. I couldn't go out without him showing up in the restaurant, trying to stick his tongue down my throat in front of my date. Whenever I went shopping, he would turn up. Once I was walking down the street after dinner in a nearby city and he came running out of a bar and started hugging me. I miss the guy, having not seen him in a few years. He was working on a degree in dental hygiene, the last I heard, and that was maybe 10 years ago.

About 11 pm last night my phone rang.

Hello?

Hey, Suz, how are you?

(hm, it's late, but he knows my name, so I probably know him, he sounds possibly gay, young, who could be looking me up and calling this late?)

Who is this? (I asked gently, hoping for a nudge in my memory)

Not telling you. But I used to work out with you, we went dancing at Menjo's, and I taught your daughter to cut pizza with scissors....

No way! Kris, is that YOU?

Yeah, Babe, what you been up to?

You are at my daughter's restaurant, aren't you?

Yes! Having drinks here with my boy - of five years!

You? The dirty boy? You have a long term boyfriend? (I couldn't hide the smile in my voice - I was so happy for him!)

Yes! I am cutting hair now at a new salon near you - I gave your daughter my card. We need to get together so you can meet my boy! Hey, I am 31 years old now! (0h, no way!) I programmed your number into my cell phone.

It was great to be found, even if I didn't know I was lost. I can't wait to see him!

I wonder if he can paint?