This One Is For Nate
So I became totally L.A. today and flaked on plans. Well… not totally. It’s not like I didn’t just show up. I gave advance warning hours prior to the events. But I just didn’t feel like going. Who am I?!
I was supposed to go to a magazine party at the W at 7pm but when my friend, Hiko, IM’d me with a reminder, I broke the bad news. Afterwards, I was supposed to go with Michelle to drinks at the Sky Bar but emailed her at some point today telling her I’d be a no show.
So when I was almost ready to leave work and I got a voicemail from my friend, Kirsten, saying she’d be near the Beverly Center this evening to buy ski boots and would I like to meet up with her, you’d think I’d turn her down too. At least that’s what I would think. But for some strange reason, I said, “Sure. I’ll meet up with you.”
So just after 7pm, I find myself at a very strange place - something called “The Sport Chalet” at the Beverly Connection - hearing a whistle that I know is directed at me. You know the whistle. The, “Hey hot stuff” catcall whistle you’d expect from construction workers as you pass by their construction site in a mini skirt and heals.
I’m standing in the hall of the Beverly Connection “mall” just past the entrance and notice there is a Sport Chalet to either side of me. Oh what shall I do?! But being the smart and resourceful person I am, I notice that the store on my right has surf boards and ski stuff so I venture over yonder.
Walking down the main aisle of the ski chalet, I hear the whistling and know it’s Kirsten but can’t see her nor can I determine from where the whistling originates. So I just keep walking back. And there she is.
We chat. The salesclerk feels up her foot a little under the auspice of showing her how the boot should hug her heal. As she pays for two pairs of boots, I find a pair of non-ugly sunglasses I want to buy for my boyfriend since he’s forgetten his least offensive pair of sunglasses someplace. Kirsten decides she wants to buy the sunglasses for Brad as his birthday gift. And off we go.
Next we walk into P.F. Chang’s restaurant at the Beverly Center for dinner and drinks. Just before approaching the hostess stand to get a table, I notice my old neighbor and ex-client, Steve, at the bar. Now this is not entirely earth-shattering since Steve’s worked at Chang’s since the beginning of time. However, last I knew he was in Vietnam (turns out it was Korea) filming a movie. I’d tried sending Steve an email on his birthday last May and it was returned. I’d tried all the phone numbers I’d had for him and everything was out of order. So I wondered if I’d ever see the lovely Steve again. Imagine my surprise and utmost glee!!
We sit down at the bar and enjoy being waited on - I mean REALLY waited on where you don’t have to order anything and your plate/glass is always full of whatever. It’s my number one dining experience in L.A. I love Steve. No one else can take care of you like he can. And he just makes me light up all over. I hope you all know people like Steve. People who never truly seem to be in a bad mood and who always make you smile. Have I told you that I love Steve?!
Speaking of people I love… Kirsten went to high school with a guy named Nate. I met Nate in 1999 or 2000 under random circumstances through some random chick he was dating that I was working with. One day we were hanging out and figured out that we both knew Kirsten who was out of town at the time. She happened to be flying in that same night and we decided we would go to pick her up at the airport together. Boy was she confused. Have you ever been in a situation where you know and love two people and they show up together somewhere but you had no idea previously that they knew each other? See… this is what Friendster is all about!
Anyways, Nate’s a doctor now and living in San Francisco. He’s about to propose to his girlfriend (who I don’t know and who I hope does not read this blog.) She has a funny name that starts with a V - vieviurki? No, that’s squirrel in Polish. Viveca? Vivianne? Vienna? I know it’s none of those, but nevermind. Anyways, Nate, if you’re reading, I love you. Congratulations. I hope you feel like the luckiest man in the world when she’s by your side. I hope you feel you could never be happier. And if you need any help shopping for a ring - I’m excellent with shopping and know my way around the four C’s!
Here’s a picture of me and Kirsten after I had 3 stiff Steve drinks and she had 3 sips of a stiff Steve drink and is toasted. Love you, Nate.
