I had lunch today with Mendie. She's probably my best female friend. I trust her. She's hates mind games and lies. She's bright and funny. She also has the worst taste in men. Or perhaps taste isn't the word. Attraction. She's attracted to the wrong guys. We get together and compare notes on our various romantic mishaps.
     Today we discussed a long-time crush of mine who was playing another one of her tired now-you-see-me-now-you-don't games. She plays them all the time, and the only thing unexpected about them now is when she will do it and how long. She goes around with her feelings out, and as soon as anyone looks at her the wrong way, she disappears for a while. Mendie told me that I should be walk away from "the lying self-important untalented lazy cow." (Mendie doesn't much care for her.)
     Then we talked about Mendie's latest disaster. A guy that chases, chases, chases until she gives him what he wants, and then she doesn't see him until he wants it again. She knows she should never see him again. H will never make a place for her in his life. In fact, in between times, he sees other women. Mendie has seen him with the other women at various restaurants and clubs. He never even looks embarrassed. As sure as gravity, Mendie knows they have no future. I told her she should be done with "the amoral weasel jerkfaced pig." (I don't much care for him.)
     Of course, we both made noises like we would do just that. We'd walk away. Change our phone numbers. Block our email addresses. Return the snail mail marked 'Refused.' We make these noises a lot.
     But then Mendie changed the conversation when she turned to me and said, "Why don't we fall in love?"
     I blinked.
     "No, I don't mean we should," she said. "I mean, we should, but we don't. Why can't we for once use our heads? You're bright and funny and devoted and cute. You send cards, give flowers, remember birthdays. Why can't I fall in love with you?"
     I looked at her for a moment. "And you're smart and witty and kind. You read books and care about literature and the environment and let's not forget that you have wonderful legs and a great smile. Why can't I fall in love with you?"
     We stared at each other.
     Then she leaned over, hugged me and kissed my cheek. "Because we're idiots, baby. We're just plain stupid."
     We laughed, although later after we thought about it, it didn't seem that funny.

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