The One That Got Away

[Shellhead]

Man, woman, job, fish, whatever, tell us about "the one that got away." Somebody or something that you wanted badly but things didn't work out.

For me, it was a pretty attorney named Sunny. I was on the rebound from a bad relationship when I randomly met her. My best friend was running a personal ad that she responded to, but he saw that she was really my type, so he forwarded her letter and photo to me to respond to.

Sunny was smart (Harvard grad, cum laude), funny, attractive and very physically fit. The chemistry was great, but I was moving slowly because it hadn't been that long since my heart got stepped on by my ex. On our second date, we ended up back at her place but mostly just talked and talked until the sun rose. She made it clear our next date would consist of dinner, going to see Batman Forever, and then coming back to her place for sex.

A couple of days later, my grandfather died. My parents were coming up for the funeral, which was going to be the same day as that third date, so I called Sunny to re-schedule our next date. She was very sympathetic, but cancelled on me twice for our next date. When we finally got together again, she admitted that she probably wasn't interested in a serious relationship at that time, and also admitted that she slept with another guy that she met through the ads, the same night that I was attending my grandfather's wake. She told me that she was thinking about becoming a lesbian, but that seemed like a transparent lie at the time.

I recovered and soon moved on. That was the time that my friends refer to as The Year of Four Girlfriends. But I never again dated somebody as impressive as Sunny. Except for her treacherous amorality, she was the best woman I ever went out with.

A few years ago, I was working with a guy who was married to an attorney from the same firm that Sunny worked for. I asked about her, and found out that she moved to Seattle a few years after I met her, and she committed suicide there.

[hoffmandu]

Last Feb I had a huge opportunity to apply for a sales gig selling large lab equipment. My buddy already worked there and he was raking in about 150k. ANyway, it was inside sales, which is cakework compared to outside. I interviewed like 4 times with guy. He was the most fiercest bastard ever. I mean, you could show no sign of any weakness or this asshole would literally hang up the fucking phone. Anyway, I kept succeeding, getting to the next step, competing head to head with another guy who was far more qualified than I. So I got the job, finally, went out for beers with the bosses that same night. Next morning, fired. I had lied on my resume. Something I never do, still not sure why I did in the first place. I told them I had a college degree, which was false. The sales experience was there, just not a BA. My buddy had dropped the dime on me, not that I blame him, I wouldn't want to jeopardize that kind of career either. I guess he would have hired me anyway.The shitty thing was that I had pretty much fucked my current job up taking time to interview with this jerkoff. One day, broken and penniless, I will look back on that and weep. I'm an idiot.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

(snip)I asked about her, and found out that she moved to Seattle a few years after I met her, and she committed suicide there.

Holy Schnikies!

I wasn't prepared for that end to the story, Shell.

Mayhaps it wasn't the worst thing in the that she got away. She obviously had... issues.

[hoffmandu]

Geez, Shell, suicide aye? That's real fucked man. I gotta say I wouldn't have handled that well at all.

[Jack Zodiac]

Holy Schnikies!

I wasn't prepared for that end to the story, Shell.

Mayhaps it wasn't the worst thing in the that she got away. She obviously had... issues.

I think maybe it's that she didn't seem to have direction. She was obviously very bright, and probably shouldn't need personal ads to get a man, but from the sound of it, she just didn't know what she was doing. Sorry, Shell.

My "one that got away" for women was actually a two-fer. All through my senior year, I was split between art and writing, and spent a lot of time in my sculpting class after school, and a lot of time in my creative writing class after school working on various projects for each (which amounted to nothing since I haven't done anything involving either with my life since). In my art classes, there was this beautiful Greek girl my sister was friends with. She ran track and field, was a dedicated and talented artist, and she was fun to be with. Always bright and positive. I could talk to her for a half an hour in the morning and snap out of the funk I'm usually in that early. I'd known her for the better part of six years by that time, but she never seemed really interested in me as anything more than a friend, and usually had someone she was seeing or talking to seriously at any given time I didn't.

At the same time, in my writing classes, there was this cute, tiny girl named Alex. She was on the volley ball team (I think- or tennis, maybe), she was very intelligent, a great writer and poet, and also studied art outside of my sculpting classes (she was more into charcoal and paint). I'd only known her for about three years, but she was always fun to talk to- whether it be about art, literature, or just general conversation- and she had this presence to her that was just amazing. I think she might have been Greek too, or something Mediterranean. She had these deep, dark brown eyes, light mocha skin, almost auburn hair. Anyway, she was small and cute with all these beautiful dark features. I'd considered her unapproachable for a long time, and I passingly tried during our senior year whenever I couldn't approach Athena, but again, she was on-off with some guy. Had I brains and balls back then, I would've said fuck it and gone for it anyway. Missed my chance with both of 'em, though.

After graduation, Alex went to Boston for college and Athena went to Florida. And I went nowhere, because I was burnt out, lazy, and poor. I kept in touch with Alex, but as time went on, we just stopped. And now I live in Cincinnati, so I don't know what they hell they've done after college. Something stellar, though, I'm sure. Anyway, I'm practically married now, and I haven't really thought about them much until this topic. Thanks, Shell. :p

The "one that got away" career-wise would be the comic book shop I helped my friend run after I graduated and didn't go to college, because I'm a schmuck. He'd been running it alone for years while I was in school. As my comic book dealer, he was easily one of my best friends at the time (and I'd like to think we're still pretty close after all this time), even outside of the shop. I helped him run that place for about three years. Every day for almost three years I'd work mornings at a nursing home, then work the rest of the day at the shop to give him time to focus on the finances. We pretty much split it down the middle, hours-wise, and Wednesdays we both worked the order together. In all of the comic book stores I've been in, I'd say were were easily one of the cleanest, most organized, decently stocked, well-lit stores. Too bad out town was smaller than Maybury. :p For three years, I worked the local cons, and being an aspiring writer could've had the opportunity to pitch some of my work personally, at least to those who'd listen. I wouldn't have bothered with the bigger guys. Anyway, I had to quit to move to Cincinnati with my girlfriend, and haven't had a job I've really loved to go to since. That will probably forever be my favorite job/possible career.

At least that one hasn't completely gotten away from me.

[Dreadstar]

Kathy will be forever the one that got away. But everyone's heard that story ad infinitum around here, and print doesn't do it justice. Ask me over a beer sometime.

In 1977, my father died. I got a pretty decent bit from his insurance (which could have been a helluva lot more except for some common-law court bullshit). At the time, I was working my way through college, so I put it in the bank. It didn't last, because of some real stupid things I did. Needless to say, it didn't serve its purpose and I foolish pissed it away. The thing is, a friend who was working for a pretty decent stock brokerage told me that I *had* to invest in this sure thing. Just *had* to, man!

Of course, I said bullshit, and frittered it away anyways.

The stock? Wal-Mart at $25.

Worth of 200 shares of 1977 stock today?

5 million.

[Jack Zodiac]

Pfft! That's not the "one that got away." That's the "one that got away, waited a couple decades for the heat to cool down, then came back running and screaming to kick you right in the nuts." :mad:

[StoneGold]

A few years ago, I was working with a guy who was married to an attorney from the same firm that Sunny worked for. I asked about her, and found out that she moved to Seattle a few years after I met her, and she committed suicide there.
That's Seattle for ya.

[StoneGold]

Worth of 200 shares of 1977 stock today?

5 million.
Probably worth even more a couple of years ago, in the mid-90s or so.

[Dreadstar]

Probably worth even more a couple of years ago, in the mid-90s or so.

You may be right, I haven't really checked a quote on it in 5 years or more. But in 2000, it was around $100 and had split 100% 8 times since 1977.

Even if it's at $80 and hasn't split since it's last split in 1999, that's still 4 million.

[StoneGold]

You may be right, I haven't really checked a quote on it in 5 years or more. But in 2000, it was around $100 and had split 100% 8 times since 1977.

Even if it's at $80 and hasn't split since it's last split in 1999, that's still 4 million.
Don't get me wrong, it's still a lot more now than it was then. But I doubt you would have held on to the entire thing through the company's big boom in the 90s. Which essentially is just me randomly typing.

[howyadoin]

Except for her treacherous amorality, she was the best woman I ever went out with.You make it sound like treacherous amorality is no big thing, Shell.

[K'Nort]

I'm not still sure how it can be treacherous amorality after one date.

[howyadoin]

I'm not still sure how it can be treacherous amorality after one date.Hmm. This, too, is a good point.

[Josh S]

Except for her treacherous amorality, she was the best woman I ever went out with.



I agree with K'Nort, but that is probably the best line I've ever read on here.

[Solaris]

It was a fish. THIIIIIS big, I kid you not. You shouldda seen him. Or her. I can't sex fish.

;)

Honestly, I caught mine, so I have little to add to this thread. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful companion, husband, and friend than Troy. He drives me nuts sometimes, and me him---but he's wonderful, loving, and when the shit falls, he's my rock.

Anything after that is... after that.

[Solaris]

I agree with K'Nort, but that is probably the best line I've ever read on here.


Shit---it sounds like a great "first line" in a book! A la Noir.

[Dreadstar]

Don't get me wrong, it's still a lot more now than it was then. But I doubt you would have held on to the entire thing through the company's big boom in the 90s. Which essentially is just me randomly typing.

Dude, you're absolutey correct, I would've tossed it in 1980 when it doubled.

Doesn't discount it as the "one the got away."

[Solaris]

Dude, you're absolutey correct, I would've tossed it in 1980 when it doubled.

Doesn't discount it as the "one the got away."

Sorry, Dread---I *know* how that kind of thing can really make you grit your teeth, for YEARS. Argh.

And Miss Sunshine is trying to look for a silver lining in that... and dammit, I'm coming up empty. I'm not real good with silver linings right now. I'm sorry.:(

[Josh S]

I can't sex fish.



I can, but I have to kill them first.

[Shellhead]

That's Seattle for ya.

I agree. Whether she was depressed or had some serious issues, she probably shouldn't have moved to Seattle unless she really loved the rain.

[Evo Schandor]

Her name was Deb.
No details - they still pain me so...

[Joe Rice]

For me, it's just the One I Got at the Wrong Time.

[StoneGold]

It was a fish. THIIIIIS big, I kid you not. You shouldda seen him. Or her. I can't sex fish.

Then you were never a groupie for Led Zeppelin.

[howyadoin]

Then you were never a groupie for Led Zeppelin.I always thought they should open a seafood restaurant.

[Nikita]

Hmmm....the one that got away. Had a couple of those actually. An old highschool flame, a crush at work who left the company but I never told him about my crush.

Life is short. Live it.

[Chiasm]

Girl named Stacey I met in college. She was on one of those exchange programs where she attends a different college for a semester but pays as if she is at her own college - a great way to get a semester at a college you can't afford or just get a change of scenery.

We hit it off really well. We were getting really close and on the verge of a relationship. Then the semester ended and she went back to Iowa. We stayed close via phone and letters for quite a while but 2000 miles is too far for a relationship, especially when your both college students and can't afford to fly.

Eventually we lost touch. I found her on the net a few years back and we exchanged a few emails but she's married now and has kids. I was recently divorced and it just felt wrong to try and rekindle something so we lost touch again. I'm happy for her though, I watch her vicariously on the net occasionally through her webpage and such and she seems quite happy.

[Solaris]

Then you were never a groupie for Led Zeppelin.


I thought they were into gropers, not groupers.

:D

[atoningunifex]

They all get away. *sobs* All of them!

But that's okay. I've been learning how to tie better knots. So there's hope for the future.

[Kid Omega]

I thought they were into gropers, not groupers.

:D

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/mudshark.asp

[JeffreyWKramer]

I can, but I have to kill them first.

But if you sex the live fish, you can let them go afterward, so you have a potential partner again later.

One of my long-ago clients did that. Cross horny male adolescence with schizophrenia and you can get some weird-ass behavior.

[jessecuster3]

I have told this story before, but I was sure I was going to marry this girl, and then on her way back to Virginia after graduation from college, her car was found smahed into a telephone pole. No cause was ever found.

[HomerJay]

Two instances, both in college (when I had 10% bodyfat and muscles you could see). However these were ones that got away due to me making the wrong decisions rather than twists of fate.

1) Sophomore year, and 2 smoking-hot girls (roommates) both dug me, one blonde & the other brunette. I chose the blonde. She turned out to be the headcase of the two and a compulsive liar who I later found out was just using me as a f**ktoy while her real boyfriend was in the army. After getting to know the brunette better, I discovered she was a sweetheart with the sex drive of an 18 yr-old boy, but she now saw me as damaged goods after the debacle with her nutty roommate.
Way to go dickhead.

2) My freshman year in the dorms I had a brief fling with the girl that lived directly below me. We remained good friends but there was always a bit of a Ross/Rachael dynamic between us and we nearly hooked up again 3 other times the next 3 years. After junior year, we were both sick of our respective housemates and decided to get an apartment together. After thinking about it, I told her that before we moved in together she should know that I was still attracted to her and things could get weird. She said she felt the same way so we decided not to pull the trigger.
Ironically, I started dating my wife the summer before we would have moved in together.

[Kent H]

There was this girl named Laura I knew all through middle & high school that I always had a crush on, but I was really shy back then. I could hang out with the girls, no problem, they even liked me being around because unlike the other high school guys I actually listened to them. I just could never bring myself to the point of trying to ask anyone out.

Anyways, I was oblivious to signals put out by women then, still am really. But when I look back, there are times I think she was hinting that she was attracted to, & I just never picked up on it. Like, for one Christmas she got me this little Boba Fett figurine, probably the year before the Special Editions came out. It may not seem like much, but she must have really been paying attention, or good at reading a person, to know I would like that.

But like I said, I never worked up the nerve to say anything. I saw her once a couple years after graduation and acted like a bit of a spaz, missing my last opportunity. Haven't seen her since.