It was a Sunday afternoon. I was in New York visiting my at-the-time boyfriend, a 23 year old waiter who lived on his aunt's couch and smoked pot more frequently then I breathe air. We were sitting on the couch, which would later become our bed, and he was telling a "funny" story about how he and his buddies used to egg each others houses, when a question began to form in my mind. It is a question that I have had time and time again throughout my dating life, in these moments when I'm faced with realities such as I'm dating a guy who lives on a couch and doesn't have a bank account. How in the hell did I get here?! I thought to myself, really, what am I doing here, on this couch, with this loser?
I'm a 30 year old woman. I'm a flight attendant who makes a decent living. I had just gotten back from Barbados because those are the kinds of places I like to visit and have access to with my job. I have a perfectly good bed waiting for me at home in California, where I live alone with my cat, no relatives, and if I ever sleep on my couch it's because I fell asleep watching a movie and not because I have no choice. So again, how did I get here?
I've decided that in order to figure out how I got here, I need to go back and revisit my past. Back to where it all began. To the first of the many boys I have loved, lost, hated, and dated. So join me on this journey and perhaps you will be able to help me answer the question of "How did I get here?" Maybe while reading through these chronicles of the many frogs I've kissed trying to find that prince that I'm not sure actually exists, you might see something I missed.
Just a little about me before we begin. My name is Parker. Before I was of dating age, I was surrounded by a different group of boys. I grew up with 7 brothers. You'd think growing up with all those boys would have helped me tremendously once I entered the world of dating, but as you'll soon see through my stories, it failed to be of assistance. I have 2 best friends who are my rocks. There is Gavin, who is the straightest gay man I've ever known. He is extremely wise and gives the best advice. Unfortunately I often fail to take it and end up with many "I told you so's." He is irritatingly always right, and I don't know where I'd be without him. Then there is Raven, who I have known since the 2nd grade and is my unofficial sister. She is always there to talk me down from the ledge after each heartbreak, and laugh at the ridiculous dating stories I always have to share. She skipped the dating scene altogether to marry her high school sweetheart and therefore lives vicariously through me. She has 2 beautiful daughters and is constantly complaining that because she is now a mother she never gets to do anything fun. Gavin and I have to remind her that she is usually complaining about this while having cocktails at one event or another with us, and that she does more fun things then most single people I know without kids. She doesn't seem to see it that way.
Now that I've shared a bit about my present, let's go back to where it all began.
The Boy Chronicles....
