Random Day Off

My "family" was going to the zoo.

Now I love the zoo.

I love my family. I was seriously tempted by the idea of seeing these kids see tigers ect.

But the idea of a spontanious three-day weekend was seriously something I wanted.

So I was torn.

But a migraine the Sunday night made my mind up for me. 

So I was looking forward to this spontaneous day off. I had a long list of things to get done. Some of which I accomplished. I am working on the achieveable part of the goal setting thing.
 

It was a couple days after a birthday of one of my best friends. I'd told her I'd get her a Claddagh ring. (Friend, if you are reading this I promise I will send it soon.)

So I went to the bus stop to wait for the bus.
And wait.
And wait.

I even started looking in the local shops for the ring. But I didn't see any I liked.


It became very evident the bus had no intention of arriving on time. Or at all.

I wanted to go back home and you know, read, write, watch BBC and all the other introvert things I love.

But summer was ending and I wanted to finish strong and go to Galway. Who knew when the next miandering shopping day would come my way?

So I sat down to read my Nook on the bench.

My Nook was out of batteries.

Oh well. I could listen to my i-pod.


I was thus occupied when a guy walked by, stopped and walked back up to me.

"Do I know you?" He asked.

I took out my earbuds because that's polite. "No. Sorry." I said. This guy was in his late thirties/early forties. I didn't know him. Besides, guys occasionally use that "do I know you" thing as a pick up line. I find it's just best to not play along at all if you are not interested. I was not interested. So I began to make a show of putting my ear buds back in.

"No, I'm sure I know you. Where do I know you from?" It was becoming very eveident that this man was drunk. Hammered. Sloshed. Pickled. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon, so that's pretty impressive even by Irish standards.

"No. I'm not from around here." I answered.

"Neither am I." He sat down on the bench next to me. "Where are you from."

"The U.S." I answered.

"Really!!!" He was shocked.

Now I have a pretty thick American accent. My vowels sound like they have been ironed with starch.  It shouldn't come as a shock that I'm American. But then maybe it's not as thick as it sounds to me because people are always shocked when I tell them I'm from the states. They usually guess Holland or the UK.


"Really." I answered.

"You're not the woman I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of a different woman." You don't say sir? "You're really from the states!!! An American Girl!"
He started cracking up at this point. So overcome was he by the hilarity of the astonishing fact that I was American that he actually started to lay down on the bench. Maybe I should pretend to get a phone call.


"What's your name?" He asked when he could speak again.

"Madison" I answered. Kicking myself for not lying. I'm usually pretty good at coming up with quick lies.

"Oh, Madison, it's great to meet you." He stood and shook my hand. "That's a lovely American name and you're a lovely American girl."

"Thank you." I answered.

"Well, nice to meet you." He smiled.

"You too." I smiled diplomatically.

"Just so you know," he leaned in, great. "I am not chatting you up in anyway."

"Oh, hahaha I know." Yeah okay but you are still to close.

"I have a lovely wife and two beautiful kids at home."

"Oh. That's so good." How am I supposed to answer that?

"I am an honest person." He said with viamence.

"Yes. Okay." My diplomatic skills were wearing thin. But it was okay because he walked off.

I figured besides the giving him my real name I had handled the whole thing pretty well. When I got to town I got myself a hot chocolate.