I’m actually far less awkward around complete strangers than with familiar faces.

Tuesday after work I headed over to CP to pick up Mr. Rose for a brief hangout session, completely exhilirated yet mildly terrified.  Dinner with my teacher!  The transition from teacher to (friend?  mentor?  fake dad?) is something that I’ve wanted ever since I found out that I’d be attending CIM, but the reality of the situation was scary nonetheless.

More importantly, I wasn’t sure if the ~6′4 man would fit in my tiny Acura.

Fears aside, I picked Mr. Rose up from his hotel and we headed out to get some pho (his treat!).  I prattled awkwardly about my job, what I do, what the pay is like, and all the little details of office life.  When we got to the restaurant somehow the topic turned to food, as it often does with us, and we discussed restaurants here, restaurants in Cleveland, aspects of eating fresh and the benefits of being a locavore.  When I get nervous I talk and talk and talk, and I’m vaguely aware that I probably babbled far too much about home and my family and whatnot.  Still, it was really enjoyable and he seemed genuinely interested in the things I had to say (but maybe he just fakes it well??).

The day ended with hugs and discussions of keeping in touch, and while I’m always irrationally plagued with the fear that I’m being told such things purely out of courtesy, I really do hope we can be friends on some level.  I’m not one to confide in people before I feel like I’ve figured things out for myself, but Mr. Rose is the only adult with whom I’ve ever felt that trusting parent-child relationship with, where I can turn to him about my fears regarding my career, my relationship, and really almost anything.  And even if I no longer want to be the little girl that calls crying about her problems, I don’t want to lose that feeling of having someone.