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March 24, 2007
The Trip Out West: The Main Characters
Today we'll take a break from our story to introduce the main characters: Tom and Me.
Tom
I met Tom, and as I've said before Tom is not his real name, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. It was September of 1981. I'm pretty sure he was living as the third person in an apartment that had been rented to two guys. So he sort of sneaked in for rent-reduction purposes. For any other Miamians reading this, it would have been the Fox & Hounds complex.
[It may have been the other nice complex. The one that began with a "C." Candlewood? Fox and Hounds still gets my vote.]
Before I go any further let me say that I have been blessed with some of the best friends a person could have. Guys and Gals. I used to see most of these people almost daily. Now, sometimes years pass between seeing some of them as we all have families. Still, a bond remains, and I know that if I were ever on the run from the law I could call anyone of these people and they'd hide me out in their crawlspace and not even consider turning me in to collect the reward. (Maybe a couple of the wives would if tuition for the kids was due, but they know that I know that they would, and that's a special bond all by itself.)
I remember Tom saying, during a brief discussion on religion one night, that he was an atheist. He said he'd gladly give people anything he had not because he thought God wanted him to, but because he was a nice guy. And he was then and I'm sure he is now.
That may have been the same conversation in which I asked Tom if he'd ever considered killing himself. He said he hadn't and that if things ever got that bad he'd take off for someplace away from everybody. At the time I thought we'd all (all of us, people) had that thought, now I know Tom hasn't and neither has my brother. Folks, before we get too carried away, I'm not on the verge of killing myself, but you've got to admit that there are days when being dead sounds relaxing. You know, those days when any form of afterlife seems like it would be too much to bear.
It wasn't uncommon to have someone tell Tom he looked like Paul McCartney. Tom said he didn't see it, though he thought he might resemble a young Paul. I didn't see it at the time either, after all when we were in college McCartney was old … he was 40. Years later I saw a picture of a young Paul and couldn't help but think how much he and Tom looked alike. (By the time I was in college I'd been in and out of my discovering the Beatles phase. I'd certainly seen the young Paul photos before — but had forgotten them.)
Tom was a good guy with a good heart. I spoke with him less than a year ago … prior to that it had been several years.
Me
I like to think I'm a nice guy. I've pointed out before that the trouble with thinking you are a nice guy is that it is really hard to know. I remember sitting around one night, a long time ago, thinking "I'm a nice guy, I deserve nice things." And then it hit me — do assholes sit around thinking "I'm an asshole. I don't deserve shit!" I doubt they do. I imagine they sit around thinking, "I'm a nice guy. I deserve nice things." I figured there was a chance I was an asshole and just didn't know it.
I've since been assured, by the psychologist person I see, that bad people typically realize they're bad.
Anyway, I'm a nice guy now, I was a nice guy then. If you are a female I am the guy your mother wanted you to date which, of course, made me the last boy in the world you wanted to go out with. And really, that was not going to be a problem for you as the odds of me asking you out were almost zero.
The picture below if one of me about a year after the trip out west (maybe a year and a half or so.) You'll notice the air of harmlessness about me. It is probably worth mentioning that the redhead's mother hated me. (Not really. But that sort of kept with the theme. It is worth mentioning that I the redhead met all of my dating rules criteria, which we'll sum up here as: had she said "no" when I asked her out I'd likely have never run into her again.)
Why do we need to introduce the characters? Well, something is going to happen next week and I thought an introcution of sorts was in order for anybody jwho has recently come here.
[You know. I realize it would take the smallest bit of research to discover Tom's true identity. So, before you get all full of yourself if you figure it out — let me remind you that this is What's a Delmer Look Like, not the Department of Defense.]
Posted by delmer at March 24, 2007 8:44 PM
Comments
Yeah you certainly don't have the "I'm bringing her home late and she'll smell like booze" smile on your face. How does "I am the guy your mother wanted you to date" story fit into the upcoming "tent" story? Guess you loosened up?
Posted by: Mikeo at March 25, 2007 10:29 PM
Delmer,
I'm way behind in reading your blog. Hey, is that a picture from our (as in Darrell and me)wedding? I think I remember the red-headed girl at our "Delmer's house wedding reception".
And by the way, my parents were scared WE might start dating. You and I had way tooo much fun together.
Sherry
Posted by: Sherry at April 1, 2007 11:05 PM
Sherry,
I believe that is a picture from the reception. It's the only thing that explains the tux. Also, the series of photos that shot is grouped with contains a lot of people I recognize but can't name.
I don't believe I was at my best when your parents met me ... I can understand their hesitation (at the time) to having us hang out together. (I know they love me now.)
Posted by: delmer at April 3, 2007 2:42 PM