Recycled

A few weeks ago, my friend Katie told me a cute, sweet story of mid-day urban romance.

She was walking to get lunch, the sun was out, and a handsome stranger approached her. "Excuse me, this may be kindof weird, but life is short, so I figured what the heck. Are you single?"

She laughed, shyly, and said, "Well, kindof." This is the every-girl answer that gives everything and nothing away all at once.

Handsome stranger sticks out his hand, introduces himself (Scott) and says, "I never do this kind of thing, but I couldn't resist - you're so adorable!"

She giggled, nervously, and allowed him to give her his phone number after he says, "We should get lunch, or coffee, sometime. I work at the Tribune right nearby." (He had no cards on him, and she was clutching her phone, so this all seemed normal). He entered his digits into her cell, and then they parted ways. Not before Katie had noticed that he was well-dressed, outwardly normal, and was heading back to the office at the Chicago Tribune, which, incidentally, is across the street from our office.

Satisfied by the unexpected compliment, Katie shared her story humbly and we had a good laugh. We were actually quite proud of Handsome Stranger for his nerve, his suave yet unrefined ways, and his all-around general likability.

Katie was pretty sure she'd call him. And by call him, I'm sure I mean that she'd play coy and text him. Whatever. Not all of us have the nerve...

Anyway. A few weeks go by and Katie has yet to call him, text him, or send a carrier pigeon to the Tribune offices.

Yesterday, I'm at work really early and have just left Starbucks at 6:30 A.M. to head downstairs to meet my colleague for a long trek to central Illinois.

As I turn, clutching my coffee, I hear a guy say, "Excuse me, this may be kindof weird, but life is short, so I figured why not. Are you single by chance?"

I literally am taken off guard JUST long enough to notice that he is nice looking, well-dressed and seemed likable. And then it hits me.

It is THE SAME GUY AND THE SAME LINES. Rings a bell. Loud and clear.

I say, "Well, no, I'm not actually," to avoid the awkward denial of his phone number. He says, in return, "Well, okay. I never do this kind of thing, but I couldn't resist - you're so adorable!"

It was practically WORD for WORD.

Now, either that guy has some serious creativity issues, or he's a total Michigan Avenue player and figures he'll play his odds.

Not sure. I was left holding my recycled coffee cup, a recycled newspaper and the mental replay of recycled pick up lines.