Love at Second Sight
Mar 12th, 2009 by Frank
I’m in love.
I didn’t expect it to happen. Not so soon, anyway. Not after so many years of single-minded devotion. But there it is. I’m in love. I feel a little unfaithful, of course, but my new feelings don’t expunge the old. They don’t replace them. There’s just a new layer of affection on top of the previous feelings.
Of course there’s the… wait. You don’t think I’m talking about the girl, do you? Oh. Ha. Sorry. No, no. That’s Echo. She’s the long-time girlfriend of a good friend of mine, and one of the folks behind the fabulous site, Popup Chinese. She is also, at last count, 37 kinds of awesome. But she’s not the one who stole my heart yesterday (though she came damned close).
It was Beijing. Beautiful old girl that she is, she kind of swept me off my feet. Yeah, she’s a little cold (and man, I hate the cold), but I had the warmth of good friends to offset that. I don’t know what it was, exactly. Don’t know when it started. But I’d hazard a guess that I felt the first sting of it when I saw all the lanterns lit up.
It wasn’t the pizza. I can tell you that. Despite Dave’s assertion that he wouldn’t take me anywhere that wouldn’t “wow” me, I’m a Brooklyn-born Sicilian and he’s a Canadian. What the hell does he know about good pizza? Some day I’ll have to educate him. But he was right about everything else. The city, the people, the old hutongs hiding down the alleys and the quaint lantern-lit streets. Damn him, he was right.
I don’t know where it started, but I can tell you that I finally surrendered at 2AM with a plate of fresh shredded pork and bamboo shoots, a steaming cup of rice and an ice-cold Coke.
This isn’t my first time to this city. I was here in 2007. But this is different. We’re past that awkward first date stuff, she and I. Now she’s let her guard down and shown me a hint of shoulder, a sliver of thigh. Oh, you sexy, beautiful girl, you. We really must spend more time together.
It’s nice to see the feeling is a bit mutual. I’ve made my small mark on Beijing, too… or at least the people in her. The Deuce, man. I warned you. It’s coming.
More soon. I’ve got my second wind and she’s calling.
More soon.
happy
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God, I love this fucking post. <33333
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Guijie is truly many kinds of awesome. In contrast, the lack of decent eating options at 2;00am in Shanghai is almost criminal. Tongren Lu is pretty much an oasis of sanity, although they do have good coffee and nice beer, which counts for a lot.
2007 was my first time in Beijing (and China) as well, during spring festival. Miss the old girl.. but I cherish the good times we had. Can’t wait to get back there.
Absolutely beautiful! So glad to hear you’re happy…even though there are midgets in assless chaps there!
Liza – And this fucking post loves you right back. So there.
trevelyan – I may never forgive you for feeding my nocturnal nature like this. Or I may never thank you enough. I’m not sure which.
hpmike – Beijing did nothing for me the first time I was here, and Shanghai owned my soul. Now it’s honestly something of a toss up. There is such a different vibe in this city!
Colleen – Well, it is a small world, after all.
You have this chic hooked, Baby! Keep it coming. I, for one (and obviously not the only one!), am enjoying this immensely. I’m glad to see the happiness and excitement in your tone. It was not so the last time I saw you. Be happy and ENJOY!! Love ya! ~Cathy~
Cathy – I was definitely in a different place the last time you saw me. I’m sorry you had to deal with all the sturm und drang, but I hope the pictures and the words are making up for it a little.
Just caught up on your journey. Damn, I really can’t wait for the movie. Hey, can you see Watchmen over there?
haha, more and more like to read your current mood.It is good you like Beijing!
and the red lighten always just tell you half and left half to imagine.:)