Thank you ***** wherever you are

—With any luck this coming Wednesday I will meet *****, my pretty (say it again) lifeguard friend at Canandaigua’s YMCA swimming-pool.
I hope she’s there. If she is, it will be our seventh consecutive encounter.
Our eyes will meet, and we’ll smile and wave at each other.
Two weeks ago I couldn’t do that. The ghost of my sordid childhood resurfaced: “she won’t wanna meet you again!”
So last week I beat down the ghost and “happy to see ya!” (And I am too.)
If I may say so, I think my joy draws her in.
We’ll meet, and she’ll say “BobbaLew; how are you?”
Per usual I’ll lock up, unable to respond appropriately.
*****, my coach, will say the words I should use. I may be able to force ‘em out.
Another female lifeguard does that; although I asked her.
“Please know my ability to socialize, especially with women, is NILL.
Please don’t give up on me!”
Now ***** does it, and I never asked her. — Thank you ***** wherever you are.
Enter the real me.
“Perfunctories aside, I sure hope you’re okay. It’s the sunshine of your smile and eyes.”
Forget romance! That’s for kids.
What we’re doing is reversing my hoary past.
“NO PRETTY LADY WILL SMILE AT YOU!”
Yet ***** does — I’ve seen it.
Others contribute. I’ve made many more lady friends than I ever expected.
But ***** is special.

• “Sunshine of your smile and eyes” is a misquote of a line from “Scotch and Soda” by the Kingston Trio back in 1958. “All I need is one of your smiles; Sunshine of your eyes, oh, me, oh, my…..” To this kid, that is female beauty. That means the lady likes hanging out with you. (NO PRETTY LADY WILL HANG OUT WITH YOU!”)