Potential Starboy

It's been a year since I have even thought about forming my next relationship at Starbucks.

BUT I moved into a new place this year and now I go to a different Starbucks. It's the Starbucks I swore I'd never go back to - the one off of Hillcrest that, at one time, hosted far too many females for my liking.

I come here regularly (since it's within walking distance from my townhome) but I'm usually busy with school, reading, or downing coffee to notice anyone.

Now, however, I'm far too busy watching the tall, dark and handsome barista making my coffee. (Note: I do like men. I looked up the origin of "barista" just to be sure I was using it right. It is of Italian origin and is used for both males and females. This is a male barista.)

At first I was like, 'I must figure out why he is working at Starbucks! He could be a starving artist peddling his drawings on the street and working here on the side; he could be a jazz musician waiting for the saxophone to return to popularity meanwhile making hot java; he could be a student paying his way through college; he could be a dancer; or this could be his real job.'

To be truthful, I would be fine with all of the options except for the last one. I am a highly ambitious person and I surround myself with people who are the same way. You have to be interesting, want something, work for something, and have that "never say die" attitude. If you're just working at Starbucks and smoking weed on the side, then I'm sorry but it's just not going to work out between us.

After overhearing a conversation between him and a regular, he is a student studying Business. IMPORTANT FACT: he does not go to SMU. Thank God. I'm sorry, but SMU boys are just...well they're driving me nuts. This was music to my ears.

Ok, so now that I've done some covert background research, it is time for action. Next time I think I'll ask him for some water or something with my coffee and hopefully I'll say something funny. We'll see about that.

For now, I'll just keep coming back and spending money on overpriced coffee. But now I have a perfectly good reason to: I'm basically supporting a student trying to achieve his dreams in the Business world.

I should be given a medal.

The Circle

It appears that I have tried to evade Shawnee, Kansas......and have failed.

I love my grandparents. I have spent my entire life admiring them and wondering how I can find a relationship like theirs. To everyone else, it seems dysfunctional. And to me, growing up, I have wondered how my grandmother managed to lassle a man as stubborn and as worldly as my grandfather. At the same time, I wondered how my grandfather managed to hook a woman as lovely, patient, and loving as my grandmother. It's like they should repel each other....and yet, were made for each other at the same time. I don't know how to explain it other than IT WORKS AND I WANT IT.

My grandfather doesn't listen to anyone and I love him for it. (Everyone else is annoyed.) Perhaps it's that, "I'm going to do what I want to do, so help me God," that I've learned from him and we understand each other without talking about it. After all, I picked up and went to Texas in a decision made in less 24 hours. Who was to stop me? No one. Even he wanted me to stay close to him but I want to do what I want to do.

So I went. To Texas. To get out of Kansas City. To grow as a person. Or so I thought.

Yet I always find myself returning to Kansas City and admiring its beauty and history. I taunt others with how magestic the city is, how much it has to offer, and its widespread glory. They question my sincerity: "If Kansas City is so great, then why did you leave?" I am dumbfounded; I don't know.

I thought that distancing myself from the familiar would help me grow as a person. But now, perhaps I need to look closer at what I love and appreciate it more.

I have spent the past 3 years looking for something to make me happy. Now, I'm realizing that perhaps what I need has been staring me right in the face for the first 18 years of my life. It's weird to realize, but I like it.

It's kind of a learning experience. Similar to, "You don't know what you've had until you've lost it." I gave away Kansas City for Dallas, Texas. I told EVERYONE that I was never moving back home. Now, however, I think I might be realizing that Kansas City is exactly what I need.

It will be interesting to see where I go from here.

All I can hope for is a spouse that drives me crazy, yet I can't live without him at the same time. To others, it may appear that my grandparents are at their wits end with each other, but I know that they loved each other so deeply. I know that they complemented each other so much that, if I even come close to their relationship, I will be the luckiest girl in the world.

Even now, when I see them, I think they are the greatest people in the entire world. They will never see this but that's ok. I love them and I think they are so amazing. They are loved my so many people, but most of all......ME.

Stuff Like This Never Happens to Me.

I'm boy crazy. I'm sure you've figured that out by now. I just find the opposite sex so intriguing.

I love flying alone. I usually do because I fly to-and-from school and to-and-from wherever else I feel like going (Europe. Yes, I flew alone and loved it). This has led to many talks with strangers during my flights. I also love strangers--they're interesting as well. And I think it's exciting that you will never again see the person you just spent hours talking to during your flight.

After I go through security and am about to walk up to my gate, I always always think, "Oh man, I sure hope there is a cute boy on my flight and by some miracle from God we get to sit next to each other, fall in love, get married, and have lots of babies. I would be sooooo grateful." And every time I walk up to my gate, I am greeted by disgruntled families, businessmen, and old people. My smile fades as my hopes of meeting my future husband are shattered into a tiny million pieces.

Not this time.

Which brings me to my flight yesterday from Dallas to Kansas City: the best flight of my life. I'm still semi-asleep as I walk up to the gate and am literally looking into a sea of beautiful 20-something males. "WHAT is going on here?!" I wonder. "This is just...fantastic. Now, I must choose my seat wisely. So. Many. Options."

I sit down and listen to my iPod as I wait to board the flight. To an outsider, I look like I'm minding my own business and playing a game on my phone. Wrong. I am scoping out the guys for my future boyfriend. This ensues until it's finally time to board the plane. I'm walking down the aisle when I see two cute ones in the middle and window seats. "Perfect. I'll just plop down in the aisle seat and that will be that. A two-for." Wrong. Just as I have done an imaginary fist pump in the air, a lady with a baby about 7 people in front of me takes the spot. "WHAAAAAAT?! Seriously, lady? You've already got one of those! Don't be selfish." Ugh, whatever.

So I sit across the aisle with a seat open next to me. I'll get sick if I go too far back and I'm not willing to risk looking green while I'm talking to Mr. Right. I'm texting my friend Mary-Kate (one of my twins) about how the lady should switch me seats if she knows what's good for her kid when I'm smiling to myself, look up from my phone, and make eye contact with a blond-haired, blue-eyed babe. Immediately, "Is this seat taken?" Shocked, I reply, "Oh, no it's not. You can sit here." Giggling inside, I let him by and text Mary-Kate, "Gotta go. Destiny awaits."

He graduated from the Air Force Academy, is a pilot, and lives in Texas. He let me try on his ring. He's from Kansas City and played football against my high school a few years back. We had a lot in common.

We talked during the entire hour-and-a-half flight. It was fun. It was magical.

He asked for my number.