One Valentine's Day, I received a huge bouquet of flowers at work. My sister and I had sent a couple of relatives flowers earlier in the week, and I thought, "Well, isn't that sweet. She sent me some too!" Uh...no. The card was signed "Roy." I didn't know any Roy's. Uh-oh. It said something to this effect: "Dear Lynndsey, I have seen you around and I think you are pretty and nice....I was wondering if you would go to dinner with me." This actually sounds much more eloquent than it was. You would think that getting a surprise bouquet of flowers from a "secret admirer" would be exciting. And you would be wrong. More like unnerving.
A blackout in our office that day added to the drama. As my coworkers wandered around somewhat darkened halls they were more than happy to help track down Mr. Mystery. My boss called his number, got voice mail, and had me call back to see if I recognized his voice. Of course, he picked up that time, prompting me to quickly slam the phone shut. After a few days of worrying if some wacko was going to come up behind me and whisper, "So, did you like the flowers?", I called him again. Our conversation went something like this:
Lindsey (trying hard to sound low-key) "So, where do you know me from?"
Roy: "From work." (Way to be vague, Roy, way to be vague).
Lindsey (still trying to act casual): "Oh, do you work at the college?"
Roy: "No." (Okay buddy, give me something to go on, 'cause right now you're very much in stalker territory).
Lindsey: "Where do you work?" (Spit it out, Roy).
It turns out he worked for the transmission place I had frequented the previous month. I tend to have a way with cars...a way of sending them straight to the mechanic. It shouldn't surprise me that my mechanic would be sending me flowers. I might as well give them my bank account number and say go at it. We chatted a bit more, but he lost his nerve when my roommate's mom happened to be over and answered the phone the next time he called. The one that got away...
