You know that song “Think I’m In Love” by
Beck? I really can’t think of a more appropriate tune for my life at this
moment because I cannot get this girl out of my mind. Seriously, I’ve always
thought of myself as straight as an arrow, but my girl Tomato is making me
rethink EVERYTHING. Yeah. Her name is TOMATO. It’s funny, I’ve always hated the
taste of tomatoes until just recently. How much more symbolic can you get? The roughest
part is that I think she has eyes for another girl, someone else travelling
across the country. She casually mentioned that her name is Pearl and while she
seemed nice enough, I can’t help but be a bit jealous. I barely know Tomato,
but I want her undivided attention and Pearl is killing my vibe.
Anyway, I was hanging out outside of a gas
station somewhere in New Jersey when she comes rolling up with Pearl in this
motorcycle. I want to say she gracefully came to a stop and dismounted, but in
reality, she sort of just fell off the bike and tried to play it off like it
was nothing. “’Sup,” she said, and I melted. She was just so damn cool! We got
to talking, and I told her about how I was attempting to hitchhike around the
country. Her face lit up. “Come with me! Even if it’s just for a day. Camping
alone kind of sucks.” And so I went.
We talked to each other about anything and
everything that came to our minds, from the guilt of torturing poor slugs with
salt to bonding about how much Texas sucks to reminiscing about the delicious
Puerto Rican food our moms made and we so badly craved. Tomato was the most
open person I had ever met, and I felt comfortable talking with her about
subjects that I would rather keep hidden from most of the world. There was just
something about her; her charming smile made me feel warm. She was honestly everything
I wanted to be in life: sort of a total mess, but faking it ‘til she made it. She
just seemed to care so little about what others thought of her, and she just
seemed like she was having such an amazing time living life. I didn’t stay with
her for very long (as much as it pained me, it was my main rule from the
beginning). Maybe I fell in love with her, or maybe I fell in love with the
person I want to be. All I know is, I cannot get Tomato Rodriguez out of my
damn head.
I'm sitting in a diner early at 8am. I didn't sleep too well in the motel I was at last night, and so I desperately need coffee and toast. In the mornings I cannot engage in anything intellectually challenging, and so I just stare out the window and look at the going on's at the gas station next to the diner.
ReplyDeleteI'm zoning out most of the time, but as my vision comes into focus I realize I am watching a young woman with a badass leather jacket ride in on a motorcycle. In my mind I chuckle (because I am too tired to physically chuckle) as she kind of falls of the vehicle instead of dismantling it; I can relate--that would totally be me.
This other young woman approaches her. I hadn't noticed her hanging out in the gas station until now. They begin chatting with such ease and warmth, as if they know that they have similar souls. Man I wish that I could strike up conversations as easily, that I could connect with people so quickly.
They chat for a couple minutes with such ease. Soon enough, the girl who had been loitering rides off with the motorcycle chick. And I suddenly feel lonely. Why can't I find adventure so easily?