...update...lunch was nice & I cannot be bought

Lunch at Clyde's:

He didn't think tap water was good enough for me so made me (!) have bottled Saratoga (?)...anyway, it was fine; as was tap water, honestly.

"French gentleman" is a very pleasant conversationalist and quite flattering. Apparently, je suis tres European: open and free; satisfied with my life, etc. At one point, he asked: "Is there anything you want?"-a rather open question. Fearful that he would try to get whatever it may be (no Kathy, I would NOT say 'sapphires"!: while a high priced one, it would still just make me a whore), so I said

"I have everything I could want".
"Well, what would make you happy?"
"I am actually a pretty happy person."-no shots about my meds, please! j/k
"No, really, what is it that you want?"
"....umm....I really want the snow to melt!"
Which turned into a very brief conversation about the weather, and why he thinks Florida is better then why I would NEVER move to Florida, etc. Whew...I slipped out of that one fairly gracefully.

Afterwards, he asked if I had ever been to the 'furniture store' by Starbucks. I told him there is a Pottery Barn; he said that is not it.
"The artsy store?"
"Yes, that is the one. Would you like to walk down with me?"
"Sure [etc]"

Looking around said art store, he asked what type of art I like; "what do you like HERE?" I do not know how to specify why I knew he wanted to buy something for me, but I did NOT want him to, so I casually talked about the terrible dog head clocks (where the tongue is the pendulum), the tacky mugs with faces, etc., so he knew what I did NOT like.

Back down the promenade, (the town center is like a little village with a 'main avenue' where foot traffic is common and, today, somewhat heavy) toward my car. He asked if I would accompany him to Williams Sonoma. We admired this; we admired that, I laughed at the absurdity of some prices, specifically of the olive wood cutting board that the manufacturer couldn't manage to sand seams smooth (a little alliteration for you!-say THAT fast!). He took a couple of things over to the register as I spoke to the sales lady about the olive wood canister ($129!!!, but it included utencils I didn't want anyway-pfft) As we left, he handed me a bag containing little edamame) (soybean pod chopstick seats I had commented upon as we entered. Very nice of him.

All-in-all, it was very pleasant. I enjoyed the 'date', if that is what you must call it; I don't. I found him and his conversation very interesting, flattering and, for that matter, enlightening. Did you know that, to signal the waiter that you are finished, you place your knife and fork next to each other, along the side of the plate? I countered that I had learned that you cross them in the middle of the plate indicating an X: "I am finished". He said they did it differently in Europe. Je suis une American qui tres vulgar, je crois.

.......
Reflecting: I wonder why I have an issue with things like that: I don't want people to BUY things for me. Odd considering the general concept that I would think I would LIKE gifts, I just never want anyone to think that I would do something for a little trinket that I would otherwise not do: I cannot be bought. Not that that is anyone's intention, I just don't want to feel like I owe. I do know how some European men are: it has happened to me a few times and I have heard stories. I told my friend, earlier, 'he would be more honest if a Kelly bag showed up at my door, with an engraved invitation!" I'd return them both, although I would LOVE a Kelly bag! Perhaps, I'll BUY one.

My mother once told me that HER mother told her: you can fall in love with a rich man just as easily as a poor one. Well, I countered with: "I guess that would make you a whore; a legal one, but one nonetheless." Disappointing of my mother considering the fact that she raised my sister and me to be so independant, but , until she married, was financially insecure and did not own property. Anyway, ultimately, I am sure we all have our price; so far, no offer has been presented that would be sufficient for me to give myself away. Maybe I'll just play the lottery; the government already owns me!

I used to have a fascinating friend who was inspired my awe: of her power. Coupled by an equal measure of disgust. She could get any guy give or get her anything she wanted, including his SOUL, but most often, just a free drink (or five!), which was more important, to her. As one who enjoys being spectator in any psychological study aka "people watching": I found it interesting (horrifying?) that all it took was a slight lean forward in her tight [whatever--they were always tight], a few flattering words and the guy's brain would turn off, making the drinks FLOW, money disappear and souls be eroded. I know this is an exaggeration of my issue above, but I ....and I am not positive why...cannot do this. There are too many factors.

If I want to give something, ANYTHING, it must be because I want to. It will never be because I am guilted into it or, God forbid, PAID for it...those mean I have not chosen to do so, whether it be my time, my money, or .....whatever. Just so everyone knows: if I do something for you, it is because I WANTED TO; and I expect no 'payback'; I don't keep score.

Wow, I really need to get back to work now!...