I met him my first day of work back in December ’88.  I took a break for almost two years when my youngest was born, and it was time to get back into the workforce.

I didn’t know anyone of course, being my first day and all.   It wasn’t my first job in printing but it was my first at a daily newspaper.  Wow…what an amazing pace.  I was working swing shift, something I was not used to with three children under 8.  I was tired and it showed. So here I was alone, eating a sandwich and sucking down coffee in a feeble attempt to stay awake when he came into the lunchroom.

Long, graying hair, short, slightly on the heavy side. Friendly smile.  Introduced himself as Jim.  And then asked me if I wanted to kiss him under the mistletoe.  Not unusual since it was the week before Christmas.  The mistletoe was hanging from his belt. *rolls eyes*  Shit, that made me laugh. We quickly became buddies.  Smoking buddies, drinking buddies, after work and weekend buddies when time allowed.

I always find myself in these alternative-can’t-really-be-described relationships.  We never fucked.  Wanted to many times, but it never worked out that way.  When one of us was free, the other wasn’t.  But we fooled around as often as we could.  Oh it was lots of kissing and oral, grab ass, innuendos and laughing.  He had this jacket I wanted.
A light gray nubby wool with black and burgundy flecks.  He would laugh and tell me I knew the deal-it was mine for some bed time.   I couldn’t.  I was married….but I did think about it more than once *laughing* I really wanted that jacket…and him.

I moved to part time to accommodate school, he moved in with his girlfriend.  One night a few months later, I got a call at two in the morning. I want to see you. What are you doing? I had to tell him I was occupied and wouldn’t be available any more.  We remained buddies but  life changes….  And then one day I came into work and I heard he quit. Poof.  Gone.

So last week surfing around Facebook, I did my cursory, I wonder if so-and-so is still around.  Bingo.  First hit. Sent an e-mail.  Kiss me under the mistletoe…it’s hanging off my belt.  *laughing*  Turns out he lived here many years ago and vacations here 3-4 times a year.  So what the hell?  He’s coming to stay for a few days next week.  He was headed here anyway.

So what do I really know about my old friend Jim?  We haven’t talked for…20 years or so.  Not much more than I do already except that now he doesn’t drink or smoke.  One brown eye and one blue eye.  Mark of the devil, he used to say.  Had the best repertoire of jokes on the planet. Oh yeah, he’s a Capricorn too.  Loves blues and baseball and laughing.  No wonder we get along.

True to form, he didn’t flinch when I told him that there would be no expectations of any kind from him or me.  But he was more than welcome to be here in the bed or on the floor *shrugs* Makes no difference to me where he sleeps.  We are adults after all and have seen each other naked.  But a sexual relationship or hookup is not what I am looking for.

I have a house guest next week.  And a potential (re)new(ed) friendship.  Cool!

Guess I better get some groceries too.  My fridge looks like that of a single guy…beer, coffee, creamer, cheese and crackers, eggs…not much else. *laughing*