Random Come-ons

Fact: I got a new haircut last week
Fact: Random men are flirting with me
Hypothesis (courtesy of Greg): New haircut = x-factor

It started on Saturday night. I went to the Astros game with several friends. After the game we were all walking out of the stadium. I was talking to someone in our group when I felt a hand slide along the back of my shoulders and rest on the back of my neck. I assumed it was someone from our group so I turned to look and see which of my friends was caressing me. Instead, I look up to see some guy standing there, looking down at me with a little smile on his face. "Um, hi," I said. "Hi," he replied. He just kept walking along with his hand on my neck. I was frantically trying to figure out what to do (do I know this guy? what is he doing? how do I get away?).

Right at that moment, Troy (who was walking nearby) noticed what was going on and grabbed me, put his arm around my shoulders and steered me away from the random guy. (Rabbit-trail moment: Men, we really appreciate when you serve us in these ways. I felt very vulnerable in that moment and it was great to have a Christian brother paying attention and providing a safety net.) Thanks for looking out for me, Troy!

The random flirting continued today. I interviewed three servicemen who have been discharged from the military and are now going through a program to help them reintegrate into civilian life. One of them, a Marine, was obviously flirting with me.

As I was interviewing him, I asked about the various injuries he had sustained during his time in the service. He listed off a whole litany of injuries (shootings, stabbings, knee injuries, stomach and muscle injuries etc). I told him it sounded like he was falling apart.

He replied "No way! I've still got it all together. In fact, what are you doing tonight? We should go dancing! Then I can show you all I've got to work with." Then he got this embarrassed look on his face and his buddies started teasing him that he was blushing. It was definitely a first in my job experience.

And for anyone who may be wondering, I told him I didn't think it would be very safe for me to go dancing with him...since he seems to be a magnet for shootings and stabbings.