High School Heartache (formerly G of RP) - Part 5

Purple Paisley Guy (continued)

The knock on my bedroom door startled me because when I daydream, I almost become catatonic. I've got quite an overly-active imagination. I opened the door and it was mom. She had a package in hand that had me puzzled. Who on earth was sending me a package? It was him!!!

I ripped open the box and inside were 2 cassette tapes. (Remember, this is 1990. CD's were just coming onto the scene) They were mix tapes and they each had the most eclectic mix of songs that I've ever come across. And each song was so romantic in it's own way. Some had romantic words, some had romantic melodies and some just had it all. And the letter that accompanied these tapes was something out of Lord Byron's time. It was poetic and heartfelt and just made me miss him 100 times more than I was already. My broken heart was seaming back together. I had found a prince charming.

I popped the first tape into my Walkman and closed my eyes. Basia sang "Time & Tide" and I carefully listened to the words. Oh, this guy was good. I officially waved my white flag and declared my heart stolen. Each song had some sort of significance and he had clearly spent a LOT of time carefully choosing each tune. This was too good to be true.

Our letter writing love affair carried on for months, each letter more serious than the last. Finally, summer came and I had to do something to take my mind off all this long distance romance nonsense. I obtained my first official job working as program staff for my church's camp. This job entailed me moving away from home for 10 weeks and living in the woods in a cabin with 5 snotty girls, ticks, scorpions and a whole host of other fun characters. It actually was a lot of fun and I have some really great memories from that experience. I was especially excited when I received word from Purple Paisley Guy that he & his friend were going to be traveling through the area and wanted to make a stop to see me.

I attempted to give him directions to my humble abode in the boonies of East TN, but alas, my directionally challenged mind failed me again. After getting horribly lost, he & his friend finally made it and we were reunited again! It was like no time had passed, even though it had been over a year. We "reminisced" all the way back into town while his friend drove. It was great. I took him to my BFF's house, so we could enjoy some "parent free" time and so I could introduce him to my best girlfriend. She snapped a picture of us hugging in her bedroom. I still have that pic. We both look so serious in that shot. He was really a serious and intense kind of guy. He was very passionate about things and that passion just seeped out of his pores. I was a bit overwhelmed by it at times. I think that after this visit, a change began in the tide of our relationship.

{to be continued}