The Age of Aquarius

The Age of Aquarius

I will take you back to a time in life where dreams paved the way to reality. This mystical era was a time in my life where I was on the brink of manhood. I am talking about High School, the month was January, and my Aquarianistic qualities were about to become known as I an Aquarius was to find myself with another Aquarius linking our love like the stars twinkling above. This is a story that takes place in High School as a time where many patterns in life are established, but for me it was to mold a fine line between the “safe” and the “unthinkable”.

To begin, my relationship with girls was not at its peak. Before the age of 16 girls were never a problem for me because up until that time I never had to date any of them. Interaction was kept to a minimum for whichever reason, but it ultimately came down to an awkwardness that was avoided at all costs. This mentality set up a safety or comfort zone. It was a way for me to avoid girls, even at a cost of reclusivity, which was not necessarily good for my character or my social life, but it did work and it kept me at a very secure distance from any female interaction (avoidance of talking, walking, and working with females).

This tinge of fear that developed is now a mystery to me in my maturity as I look back and see that change that had to take place as my path of celibacy skipped tracks and I found myself interacting and even finding success in the dating world. This pleased me. However, at the time it was not easy. I had to first start looking at girls from a viewpoint of interest, which I had never had, then I had to make contact, another scary adventure that is heart pounding with each attempt, then I had to engage in conversations and even try to find common interests. Fast-forwarding through the technicalities of finding my compatible woman with whom I began to date, I will now focus on a new path that became my pattern for dating. Dating was new to me and I relied on the knowledge of other to aid in my discovery. I was told that on the first date that I had to be a gentleman; I had to open doors and make lovely conversation. The second date was the one that was reserved for the romance. Understanding this I tucked this information away and then worked on finding a way to use it.

I was soon to find that girls either loved me for my brains or my brawn; two things for which I have always been attributed. Knowing this I had to use the first date as a means to figure out which was the source of their attraction. The second date therefore, was the one in which I had to see if that original attraction was enough to get them to like me and if the magic was there then I would be free to make a move. My first steps into the dating world were difficult, but luckily, with a bit of counseling, this second date ritual was about to begin.

I had found the girl. And as destiny always plays a role, she was born the same month as me and thereby sharing many of the same qualities and attributes as myself. It was our second date and to set the mood I took her to a Monster Truck Rally. The trucks were great and to show her my environmental side, we used public transportation to get there and back. Since it was our second date, I had to test the waters to make sure she was ready for a kiss. That is why on the way back while we were on the TRAX car I went ahead and put my arm around her. A second or two went by, but she felt the spark and scooted in under my arm, it was working. If I ever had any doubt that she would not want to kiss me, it vanished from at that point. I knew it that it was not only going to happen, but that it was going to be my first real kiss. The doorstep scene.

I pulled into her driveway (we drove the car at the TRAX station) and walked her to the front door. It was January, it was our month, and I knew that the gods would work in my favor, but for one reason or another, I started to get scared. Everything was right but I began to avoid the goodbye, which I knew would lead to the kiss. It had always sounded so easy, but now that the moment had arrived, I was beginning to get nervous. To remedy the situation I just talked and talked until it got colder and colder. Finally, she said she had to go in and for me it was the moment of truth.

She said thanks for such a wonderful evening and moved closer as I motioned for a hug. After a moment of hugging our bodies pulled away, but I still held my hands on her hips and looked towards her until I thought our eyes had met, and then fixed my gaze on her lips and zeroed in for the kiss. I made my move and was halfway there when her head shifted to the right! I didn’t know what to do, this wasn’t supposed to happen, I knew I was supposed to kiss her, it was the second date, everyone had told me this was the date to kiss her and I wasn’t going to fail them now.

So I did what I had to, as I saw her head move towards the door I instantly adjusted my time and speed to match hers and made contact. . . but I was too late and my miscalculations landed my kiss on her chin/cheek/left corner of her mouth. I had failed miserably; a simple ritual such as kissing a girl on a second date had lead to my humility and embarrassment. I did the only thing that I could think of and so I ran, got into the car and drove home in silence. The shock was terrible and I even contemplated a return to celibacy, but ultimately I was amazed how such an ordinary ritual went so terribly wrong.

This is a real life story taken from the monologues of Sir Judson Robert Blakesley of the Yorkshire province.