Agonotheta

Are you going to AA too?

November 01, 2004

I was trying to think of something funny that happened to me recently, because, well, I know I don't live that boring of a life, and I remembered something that happened to me a couple weeks ago.

I was driving very fast down a very busy one-way street in downtown Salt Lake trying to be on time to a basketball game I was playing in. I must have been feeling pretty wild because I darted in and out of a couple lanes trying to get ahead of the traffic. At the next light I stopped at, I noticed a car that had kept up with me. I looked over and saw a fairly attractive, older-looking (mid-30-ish) lady smiling at me. Not one to turn away from a smiling, friendly face, I returned the smile. Immediately after smiling, a deep feeling of disgust with myself welled up in my gut. I realized that I was now reduced to "one of those guys" who hits on girls from within my car. (Even if that's not exactly true, that's how I felt.) I then quickly and nervously turned my head forward.

At the next light, I looked straight ahead. You know that feeling when you know somebody is looking at you? Yeah, that was happening to me. I could feel her eyes boring into me.

The light turns green and I speed off, still trying to be on time. But alas, as is Murphy's Law, "If you are running late, every street light will turn red," I got stopped at the next light. Not being able to withstand temptation any further, I looked to my left, only to see Miss Smiley McLookatmealot doing none other than flash her pearly whites at me. This time, though, her window is down and she's motioning for me to roll down my window. Reluctantly, curiously, and nervously I roll down my window just in time for her to say, "I like how you drive!"

"Thanks," I say, somewhat confused. That's an interesting way to start a conversation, I think.

"Are you going to AA too?" she says.

"Uh, no. I'm going to play basketball."

"Oh, damn. Ok, well have a good night," she says.

"Thanks. You too," I reply.

She turned at the next light, and I realized the irony of this exchange. She assumed that because I drove, admittedly, a little wild, that I was on my way to an AA meeting. Second, it seemed as though she was a little disappointed that I wasn't. I have to assume that this is because she was, shall we say, interested in me. So I pose this question, is it "appropriate" for one to use self-help/rehab groups as a source for dating? I'd have to say, I don't think it should be. But thats just me.