I get a lot of letters from people asking if I'm still seeing my "girlfriend" Melinda. I just want to clarify a few things for everyone who's interested in that story and in my journey to find a serious relationship. Those of you who have read this blog from its inception and even those new to it know that although its title and intro infer its subject matter to be about women and dating, its really about many other things as well. But on the dating front I will offer the following update.
Melinda was never my "girlfriend" as we were non-exclusively dating when we were indeed dating, save one week of going steady. To me, a girl is only a "girlfriend" when I have pledged fidelity to her. Melinda and I stopped seeing each other a few weeks ago after a volatile couple months. I didn't want to publicize it blow by blow for many reasons. While I am fine with outing my personal life at times, other times require judiciousness as to when they are discussed publicly. That relationship was one that I felt better about keeping private for the sake of everyone involved, including you all. Suffice to say that at the end of the day, she and I didn't see eye to eye on enough of the important issues for the relationship to progress and deepen. While I'm sure you guys would identify and benefit from hearing the specifics, out of respect for both our privacy, on this one, you'll forgive me for not saying more. Maybe one day, when it's not so fresh I'll get into it, but certainly not anytime soon.
So, I am completely single, unfortunately, once again. I am going to Mexico for a month of sand and sea and yoga and female energy. The first week, my friend Rebecca will join me. The second week, a mystery guest from California. The third week, my Mom. And the last week, a yoga retreat led by two yoginis from Boston. I love women and find their company soothing, invigorating, fun and easy. They make me feel good, so I'm glad I'll be having a lot of them around me, almost exclusively in the near future. I will continue, from a funny little Internet shack in a dusty Mexican shopping mall obsessively cleaned with copious amounts of Fantastic on the hour, to update this humble site with my thoughts and stories.
I just got a call from my Mom. She was so upset by Chris being voted off American Idol last week that she was unable to muster the enthusiasm to vote last night, one of her favorite weekly occupations. That's not a good sign. I'll cheer her up at our weekly visit tonight to watch the results show. More sadly, though, she told me she can't come to Mexico. I was looking forward to an adult vacation with her. It would have been our first. This was a woman with whom I had such a fractured relationship growing up, that an hour was too long an amount of time to spend with her without fighting. Now, after years of loving reparation and forgiveness, mainly on my part, I have nothing but love and admiration for her and the thought of a week together in a place she's always loved and rarely visited, would have been dear to me. Next year perhaps. A week has opened up though. Hmmmm. I have to drag myself to the gym now for a pathetic bike workout. I've been binging lately and am getting fat and I'm about to be naked in Mexico. Even a pathetic workout is better than none at all. My motto is, "If I'd rather be eating cake on the couch than doing whatever else I'm doing at the gym, no matter how puny, it counts." And I can tell you right now that I'd rather eat cake on the couch than ride the sit down bike for 40 minutes... so it'll count.
Posted by Eric Schaeffer at 6:18 PM