Ghost of Boyfriends Past

There are few things more horrifying for a young, single woman than running into an ex-boyfriend when she looks less than perfect and fabulous.

Today, I went grocery shopping and ran into my first ex-boyfriend. You know, the first kiss, the first hand hold, the first heart flutter. You know, the first break-up when you realize that boyfriends are risky business and that next time maybe you shouldn't get your nails done if he's gunna dump you right before prom.

Not only did I not look fabulous, I looked like shit. First of all, I have had a cold so my nose was red and runny. Secondly, I hadn't put on make-up. Third, my hair was a mess. Fourth, I was wearing a baggy sweat shirt.

And last of all, he is engaged.

There are few things more horrifying for a young single woman than running into an ex-boyfriend when she looks less than perfect and fabulous but one of those things is if the ex-boyfriend she runs into is fucking engaged.

Because, 1) you look like shit and 2) you are so single.

Once I had crawled back into the car with my tail between my legs and my groceries in the truck I looked in the flip down mirror. I looked like one of those sad before pictures in fashion magazines.

I replayed our short and awkward (me, I was awkward) conversation in my head. I had been so preoccupied by my runny nose and stupid sweatshirt that I hadn't really engaged him in conversation. He said he was going to the local junior college and spending most of his time working.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I didn't just run into him at the grocery store completely randomly-- he works at the seafood counter of the grocery store.

I might have looked terrible, and I might be terribly single, but at least I don't go to our local junior college and at least I don't have to work behind a seafood counter. I mean seriously, I work in an office and I come home smelling like printer toner and white-out-- I don't think I could handle coming home smelling like salmon and crab. Blech.

So maybe there are worse things than being ugly and single. And he's probably thinking to himself, "I guess going to JC and working at Safeway isn't so bad, I could be ugly and single".

Because, really, it's all about perspective right?

In the meantime I think I'm going to remember to wear at least some make-up, even to the grocery store.