Express

Something else I learned today: If you're standing in the Express line at Wal-Mart, reading the inside flap of your new book "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America and Al Franken is Number 37" wearing that furrowed brow slightly horrified, slightly curious expression that you get only when you have the thought "Okay....someone behind me smells like bacon...ew" The guy in line in front of you WILL do a double take and point to you and say "Didn't we used to work together?" and at first, you'll have no idea who he is, but you'll play along (because he pinpointed the place you met) and he'll smile and you'll remember, 'Oh, you were THAT guy.' You will chat about what you're both doing. He, being in his early thirties now, and obviously more successful, will tell you he's starting his own computer company. You in turn, will mention that you need some work done. He'll dip into his wallet, pull out his business card and tell you that he's available anytime you might want to get together, even if it's later that evening, and not to hesitate to call. You'll shake hands as he gets ready to go and he'll lean in and smell like Curve and tell you that you're looking pretty good, and you'll flash him the biggest, stupidest grin you can manage and say 'thank you'. As he saunters away, you remember that you had a school girl crush on him when you worked together, because he reminded you of a cowboy (and we all know how you feel about cowboys...or, just the last four letters in general). And, while it's nice for a few moments in time, you slide the business card to the cashier (because, even you simply can't) who is more his age, and who keeps saying to you things like 'He's a handsome guy' and 'He seemed like quite the gentleman' and you simply reply 'He is'
After all, who else but a gentleman would remember someone they spoke maybe a handful of sentences to three years ago, over the course of 5 days? No one I can think of.Then you go home with a little extra bounce in your step and watch The Daily Show, only to find that the fella who wrote the book you just purchased is duking it out with Jon Stewart. And you can't stop grinning like a damn fool.