Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a girl who waited tables at an Irish bar where people were mostly dicks. She also spent a few weeks running pub trivia, which is where our story begins.
(Oh hey, that girl is me, and I’m about to switch to the first person).
I may not have loved waiting tables, but I really enjoyed running trivia. I was able to create questions and make really bad jokes in front of a crowded bar. They gave me a microphone. For several uninterrupted hours. Weekly. It was a beautiful thing. And I’m pretty sure I drank for free.
One night, mid-December, while emceeing trivia, a pair of dudes I had never seen before jumped into the trivia game. I didn’t take much notice of them until trivia was finished when the shorter of the two came up to me and said, “Hey! What are you doing, now? Come have a drink with us!” He was bright and shiny and happy…and offered to buy me a drink. Obviously, I joined them. I walked over to their table, and some of my regular trivia guys came over with me. Bright and Shiny was super chatty and hilarious. I loved him immediately. He ordered a round of drinks while his friend was in the bathroom.
When the taller, quiet guy returned to a fresh round of drinks, the trivia girl, and her posse, he seemed…perturbed, to say the least. But he was handsome. So very handsome. He mentioned something about it being late and having to work in the morning, and I just smiled at him and probably teased him, just a little. I didn’t have to work in the morning thanks to my server job, and so it was fun for me to play around with those who had dreaded corporate jobs (I was setting myself up for a karma ass kicking).
Bright and Shiny started telling me why they were at the bar. The two of them were planning a trip to Ireland the following spring and thought an Irish pub to be the perfect setting to do so. I mentioned that I was going to go to Ireland one day and the bright and shiny guy said, “Hey! Why don’t you come with us?”
I laughed. “I don’t think I’d be able to pull it off.”
“No, seriously, I have a bunch of miles and stuff…if I helped with your flight, would you be able to pay for other stuff?” He looked so sincere and smiley. I couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking.
Honestly, to this DAY I’m still not sure I heard that right.
“Uhhhh…”
Every fiber of my being was screaming, “BE WILD! DO SOMETHING CRAZIER THAN YOU’VE EVER DONE!”
I looked at Handsome and Bright and Shiny. They looked nice enough. They seemed really cool. And they sure did have me laughing all night.
“Dude, that sounds crazy. And amazing.”
I considered for another minute.
“I’ll think about it.”
I may not have loved waiting tables, but I really enjoyed running trivia. I was able to create questions and make really bad jokes in front of a crowded bar. They gave me a microphone. For several uninterrupted hours. Weekly. It was a beautiful thing. And I’m pretty sure I drank for free.
One night, mid-December, while emceeing trivia, a pair of dudes I had never seen before jumped into the trivia game. I didn’t take much notice of them until trivia was finished when the shorter of the two came up to me and said, “Hey! What are you doing, now? Come have a drink with us!” He was bright and shiny and happy…and offered to buy me a drink. Obviously, I joined them. I walked over to their table, and some of my regular trivia guys came over with me. Bright and Shiny was super chatty and hilarious. I loved him immediately. He ordered a round of drinks while his friend was in the bathroom.
When the taller, quiet guy returned to a fresh round of drinks, the trivia girl, and her posse, he seemed…perturbed, to say the least. But he was handsome. So very handsome. He mentioned something about it being late and having to work in the morning, and I just smiled at him and probably teased him, just a little. I didn’t have to work in the morning thanks to my server job, and so it was fun for me to play around with those who had dreaded corporate jobs (I was setting myself up for a karma ass kicking).
Bright and Shiny started telling me why they were at the bar. The two of them were planning a trip to Ireland the following spring and thought an Irish pub to be the perfect setting to do so. I mentioned that I was going to go to Ireland one day and the bright and shiny guy said, “Hey! Why don’t you come with us?”
I laughed. “I don’t think I’d be able to pull it off.”
“No, seriously, I have a bunch of miles and stuff…if I helped with your flight, would you be able to pay for other stuff?” He looked so sincere and smiley. I couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking.
Honestly, to this DAY I’m still not sure I heard that right.
“Uhhhh…”
Every fiber of my being was screaming, “BE WILD! DO SOMETHING CRAZIER THAN YOU’VE EVER DONE!”
I looked at Handsome and Bright and Shiny. They looked nice enough. They seemed really cool. And they sure did have me laughing all night.
“Dude, that sounds crazy. And amazing.”
I considered for another minute.
“I’ll think about it.”
Would you have gone? What’s the craziest thing you’ve done after meeting new friends for the first time?
Did I go on the adventure of a lifetime with these two random dudes? Click the pic below to continue the story and find out what happened next:
Desperately Seeking Something: How to Fuck Everything Up
After I met two cool guys at the bar at which I was working and stalked the shit out of the handsome one, I went
When it Sometimes Sucks to be a Waitress
After I was invited to Ireland by a couple of strangers and went all internet-stalker boy crazy, I may have fucked everything up with the handsome
Riding in Cars with Boys
I FINALLY. Had. A date. With. The Grown Up. On Thursday, we scheduled our date for Tuesday, as The Grown Up’s weekend was already booked,
Tonight and the Rest of My Life
As our date was coming to a close, I walked a little closer to The Grown Up, briefly grazing his hand with mine. We made
Things I Did to Make The Grown Up Dump Me
It took me a while to figure out how to tell you guys this part of the story. Because I was a hot mess when
How to Make Your Boyfriend Hate You
If you’re new around here, you may want to start The Grown Up Story from the beginning. But you may not, and that’s okay too.
17 Responses
I went. After meeting a girl on the beach and spending two days having a blast like sisters, she talked me into coming to Austria (she was on Vacay) to celebrate my 30th birthday in Europe and travel with her. I met my Australian husband on that trip. It was fate. It was also probably fate that you didn’t go. Bright and shiny’s usually turn out to be Ted Bundy…
Haha! That’s brilliant dude! And I’m so glad you did!
I can’t wait to read the rest of this story!
I hope it’s a worthy tale!
My life’s pretty drab so I haven’t any dangerous exciting stories to tell, but your life would suffice as a temporary substitute. I can’t wait to hear where this one goes!
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I don’t think anyone’s life is drab! I bet you
have a crazy story to tell somewhere.
Well, let’s see….. I did have a few month long affair with a famous person that was bisexual once. I knew he was and didn’t care. It was interesting….
Omg!! I want to hear THAT story!!
Sounds like it could have been a great adventure. Hope you went.
We’ll see 😉
Hmmm. I think I’d probably have said no, being an eternal cynic I’d have been expecting them to plot my murder…
It’s entirely possible that they were!
The 36 year old me would totally have gone if I were young enough and cool enough, but the twenty something waitress me would have said no. I would have never been brave enough then, but now I know how we never get those moments back. PS I think we are reading each others’s posts at the same time. Does that make us besties? Asking for a friend.
That DEFINITELY makes us besties!
Oh. Also, I would comment on what twenties waitress me would do vs. what 29’s grown up me would do…but that might give it all away.
So…. now I’m going to get lost in this tale when I really should be doing something work related. Can I use you as a reference when I need a new job? Anyway…. in my not-exactly-wild-20s I met a guy who asked me to marry him as a serious offer. I seriously considered his offer thinking it might be fun and adventurous and who cares if he only loved me for my citizenship. I ended up declining because I figured my family might disown me and I was convinced that would be bad. In hindsight, boy was I stupid. I would pay good money right now to have my family refuse to acknowledge my presence. Wow! There’s a blog post for me! I suppose it worked out… I have a hubby who likes me for me and no worries with INS… but then again, there is that drama mama thing….. Hmmm….
This story is a rabbit hole, but I truly hope you enjoy wonderland!
I’m happy to be your reference. “Very dedicated to completing tasks once started.” “Offers positive feedback to team.” “Total team player, ready to support others.”
Sound good?
Wow! That sounds like one hell of a story!