3 Point Rebound Shot

One week down, two to go.

"For what?," you may be asking yourself. A vacation? Sadly, no. The next blast-off mission from Cape Canaveral? Probably not, although who ever really knows what NASA is up to. The dawning of the age of Aquarius? Perhaps, friends, perhaps.

After a blissful week of excitement and several (I guess you could call them) dates, the all too familiar statement, "things that are too good to be true usually are," has proven itself a worthy opponent once again. Before I explain any further, let us all take a moment to become acquainted with the term rebound. Can you say that, kids? Rebound. Dictionary.com states the following: "on the rebound- after being rejected by another. Using it in a sentence: She didn't really love him; she married him on the rebound." Thanks, dictionary. com. That was a swell interpretation.

Matt K, the ruggedly handsome and talented conductor of my heartstrings, is on the rebound. This information came to me as Freddy Kreuger does in all seven of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies- in the midst of your dreams to ruin and kill you. The last thing you expect to hear after you've been stuffing your face with popcorn, laughing your ass off for 6 hours, and watching infomercials til 4am is that the man whose company you've been secretly planning on enjoying for a good long while, if possible, has just gotten out of a long term relationship. How "just gotten out" is he? Not 5 monthly installments of ex-girlfriend, not even 3 monthly installments of ex-girlfriend, but 2- that's right, studio audience- I said 2 WEEKLY installments of I just got dumped by my seriously Christian girlfriend because she said God told her to. What a deal! Shipping and handling is just $4.95! Get it now, the clock is ticking!

A crushing blow early on, I admit. But it was candid, almost. As candid as the following statement of: "So, just don't get clingy." I like Matt K because he just puts it out there. There's no bullshit or pretense here. There's only: I don't want to destroy you by leading you into thinking this will turn into something serious... I really like and respect you and want to hang out with you all the time but not be a boyfriend... I want to take some time to be single because I've had 5 consecutive relationships in a row and I need to find my testicles again... I can admire that quality in a man, especially when it's one that I seek to bring to the table myself. A hitch in my britches for sure, but all is not lost. Or maybe it is, who friggin knows. (And even if I did know, if I could blow the dust off my crystal ball and peer into the fog at my murky future and see it Matt K-less, would I run for the hills? And disrupt my pattern of chasing unavailable men? Hell no! I will bide my time and wait in the wings. If Matt K were on rollerskates, he'd be perfection on wheels.) So, I did what anyone else in my position would do instead of cry, fling poo, punch him out, or leave right then and there- I laughed at myself. "What a coinicidence," I say, "I don't have time for a relationship anyway." Sure, I've been waiting many moons for the male population to redeem itself after the last guy I dated, but what's a little more time, right? Right?!

I jokingly alluded to my unanticipated role as the ever-popular "rebound girl" by saying: "Great, so I'm your rebound girl," and then checking the imaginary watch on my wrist to see how much time I actually had to enjoy my newfound happiness and companionship and decided that 2 weeks was a good estimate. He laughed, but gave me that "now, now, Monica" look, like- don't make me feel bad for catching me the only time I've been single in like 7 years look, which I love so much.

That was round 2. Now, at round 7, I still persist, only because I like him so much. I say: "Hey, you need some time to be happy on your own... but I'm awesome and you'll never in a million years find anyone as accepting as me, so go ahead- test the waters of singledom- I dare you to find someone as cool as me." Which he reluctantly agrees to, either because he doesn't think I'm serious about it, or he already knows I'm right. The latter, I think, but I'm a little biased.

Anyways, I'm not upset. Whatever happens, happens. For right now, I'm guarding myself against the inevitable "you're too good for me right now," or the "Wow, I can't help but think I might mess this up by committing" attitude. I told Matt that it was a good idea to take his time. I wouldn't want to be responsible for him feeling like he was obligated to do anything, and I really enjoy his company so it's not the end of the world if he wants to fly solo. The other night we were hanging out and I whipped up an alfredo sauce out of thin air, which garnered me an extra week on my rebound time (thus the one week down, two to go reference). That I can can handle. I told him to wait til I make him lasagna and sauce from scratch, and that he'll never want to leave after that (which, by the way, is happening on Thursday night during a movie marathon). We shall see what happens. It is what it is, after all, and it's not like I don't know what I'm getting myself into. It's just so nice to be able to spend time with someone that is up-front and forward, with someone that isn't going to pretend things that aren't happening are. The more time I spend with him, the more I am convinced that I am happy just to have like-minded companionship with someone that shares similar goals in life. We talk A LOT, anyone that knows me personally would understand what a significance it holds that he gives me a run for my money conversationally, and if you could only hear how reveres his family, any of my own would immediately approve of him. In fact, my grandparents that live in Florida were in the area on Friday afternoon and spent about an hour with him- both of them, whom have never approved of anyone I've dated before, gave me a thumbs up- my grandfather actually saying that he had his approval from the moment Matt walked over to us and introduced himself- a cause for great celebration on my behalf.

Can I say with certainty everything will be fine? No. Am I upset that I'm not certain? A little, but only because I know for sure that I could have a wonderfully fulfilling relationship for the first time in my life, without having to compromise any parts of myself or my integrity to do so, and that however I am and whatever I am to him, it is perfect. And that, my friends, is wonderful to know, relationship or not.

Besides that, every other aspect of my life is wonderful. Being smitten has been great- I feel good, I'm sleeping well, I've been exercising... I've also found a wonderful and newfound energy to tackle my film assignment (for those of you not familiar, I am working on producing an independent film to be filmed on location in MA in October 2008). Kristen (my writing partner and former living enabler) and I have been hard at work on the 3rd draft of our horror/suspense film, Cruelty, and have also been working on putting together a production packet to mail and show to prospective investors. As more of our packet is completed, I will include excerpts on this blog in hopes that strangers with money will read this and feel inclined to donate to our cause :) It has been very difficult and almost impossible for the two of us to tackle this by ourselves, but I am super impressed that we've been able to keep up with our improbable goals thus far. It makes me think that everything will not only be ready by October, but awesome by October-- here's to keeping up with the flow of things and to staying true to our impossible goals!

Til then, friends and family, you are in my thoughts and I think of you everyday. Stay warm and don't let the bastards get you down!

Cheers!