Can you believe I got stood up? I mean, what is the DEAL with these crazy females? I suppose it's no surprise that since the title of this post is "what is self respect" that the story revolves around male / female relationships.
OK, I'll be the first to admit that I called her at the last minute.
She was out on the town, and I was out on the town in two separate Meetup groups.
Actually I had my eye on another woman at the Meetup group I was with, but she was tired and was doubtful for hanging out later that night.
But I almost convinced her to hang out.
But not quite.
She really had a long day and decided to turn in.
So I called my other friend who I had already had a couple of dates with.
So we're supposed to meet up at a lounge downtown in two, that's "2″ hours.
She said she'd be there.
I go home, change, and then drive all the way downtown, expecting to meet her in front of the lounge.
There is usually a line, and if I'm alone I just talk to the people in line.
And yes, I'm like the typical guy.
I'll try to time my arrival in line to occur right after a couple of pretty women get in line so I can talk to them while I wait.
There's nothing worse than getting sandwiched between two dudes for 20 minutes while waiting in line at the club.
So I make it downtown, find my favorite parking lot-the one with the $5 machine, and I wait.
I don't pay a dime because I've been down this road enough times to know that you don't break out the wallet-not even for $5-until you know she's going to show.
A car pulls up behind me.
It's a happy couple.
They get out the car and walk right off the lot.
I thought they were headed for the pay machine but they kept going without paying.
In downtown Atlanta? FAT TICKET.
Anyhow, I'm waiting in the car, immersed in darkness, a handful of evenly spaced lightposts spilling their eerie aqua blue light onto the parking lot in neat halos around the base of each post.
Then I see my Motorola light up in the deep blackness of my center console.
I honestly expected her to tell me she had found parking.
Seriously? She decided to stay at the joint she was at.
What Is Self Respect? OK.
I'm fine.
I calmly pulled out of the lot.
Actually the first thing I did was to be damn glad I still had that $5 I didn't spend on parking! As I cruised up Peachtree, heading north, I passed the neon lit Taco Mac on the right, the Oceaanaire restaurant on the left, turned right off of 14th street onto I-75.
Damn! Meant to get on I-85! So I had a long drive home.
I realized that I had been a true slouch when it came to protecting my time.
Time is arguably one of the most valuable assets we possess.
I thought to myself "A man who doesn't protect his time probably doesn't respect himself enough.
" So I wondered to myself "what is self respect?" Does it mean I get angry and blow up when someone tells me one thing and does another? Or does it mean I'm OK no matter what people do? Not OK with what they do, but able to maintain self control and "act cool" as they say, no matter what? When you ask the question, "what is self respect?" I believe you have to do it independently of what other people do.
Why? Because people are going to do whatever the hell they want, and within whatever boundaries you set for them.
So people can act up and be no shows if they like.
OK.
Be that way.
However, see if I allow that to happen to me again.
Either we're going to have a sit down and talk it over OR I'm going out with another woman.
It's not like we were married or anything, but I believe that the question of "what is self respect" comes down to the way I handle myself in situations that are beyond my control.
So "what is self respect?" It's having standards and demanding compliance to those standards.
Compliance by myself as well as other people, if they are going to be a part of my world.
OK, so truth be told, she's really attractive so she'll maybe get a pass.
Have you seen her in that green dress? Lawd.
Have.
Mercy.
But hey! What is self respect? That part is up to you.
Just make sure you have it.
Much Respect.
Jay
OK, I'll be the first to admit that I called her at the last minute.
She was out on the town, and I was out on the town in two separate Meetup groups.
Actually I had my eye on another woman at the Meetup group I was with, but she was tired and was doubtful for hanging out later that night.
But I almost convinced her to hang out.
But not quite.
She really had a long day and decided to turn in.
So I called my other friend who I had already had a couple of dates with.
So we're supposed to meet up at a lounge downtown in two, that's "2″ hours.
She said she'd be there.
I go home, change, and then drive all the way downtown, expecting to meet her in front of the lounge.
There is usually a line, and if I'm alone I just talk to the people in line.
And yes, I'm like the typical guy.
I'll try to time my arrival in line to occur right after a couple of pretty women get in line so I can talk to them while I wait.
There's nothing worse than getting sandwiched between two dudes for 20 minutes while waiting in line at the club.
So I make it downtown, find my favorite parking lot-the one with the $5 machine, and I wait.
I don't pay a dime because I've been down this road enough times to know that you don't break out the wallet-not even for $5-until you know she's going to show.
A car pulls up behind me.
It's a happy couple.
They get out the car and walk right off the lot.
I thought they were headed for the pay machine but they kept going without paying.
In downtown Atlanta? FAT TICKET.
Anyhow, I'm waiting in the car, immersed in darkness, a handful of evenly spaced lightposts spilling their eerie aqua blue light onto the parking lot in neat halos around the base of each post.
Then I see my Motorola light up in the deep blackness of my center console.
I honestly expected her to tell me she had found parking.
Seriously? She decided to stay at the joint she was at.
What Is Self Respect? OK.
I'm fine.
I calmly pulled out of the lot.
Actually the first thing I did was to be damn glad I still had that $5 I didn't spend on parking! As I cruised up Peachtree, heading north, I passed the neon lit Taco Mac on the right, the Oceaanaire restaurant on the left, turned right off of 14th street onto I-75.
Damn! Meant to get on I-85! So I had a long drive home.
I realized that I had been a true slouch when it came to protecting my time.
Time is arguably one of the most valuable assets we possess.
I thought to myself "A man who doesn't protect his time probably doesn't respect himself enough.
" So I wondered to myself "what is self respect?" Does it mean I get angry and blow up when someone tells me one thing and does another? Or does it mean I'm OK no matter what people do? Not OK with what they do, but able to maintain self control and "act cool" as they say, no matter what? When you ask the question, "what is self respect?" I believe you have to do it independently of what other people do.
Why? Because people are going to do whatever the hell they want, and within whatever boundaries you set for them.
So people can act up and be no shows if they like.
OK.
Be that way.
However, see if I allow that to happen to me again.
Either we're going to have a sit down and talk it over OR I'm going out with another woman.
It's not like we were married or anything, but I believe that the question of "what is self respect" comes down to the way I handle myself in situations that are beyond my control.
So "what is self respect?" It's having standards and demanding compliance to those standards.
Compliance by myself as well as other people, if they are going to be a part of my world.
OK, so truth be told, she's really attractive so she'll maybe get a pass.
Have you seen her in that green dress? Lawd.
Have.
Mercy.
But hey! What is self respect? That part is up to you.
Just make sure you have it.
Much Respect.
Jay