Observe and report

SHE SAID

While I remember the box incident clearly, I don’t remember anything else specifically about Eddie for a little while. I had a lot going on.

My three-year relationship with my college boyfriend was tanking because of the four-hour distance between Savannah and Atlanta. Well, that and because I was beginning a dalliance with a particular television reporter in Savannah. The boyfriend and I parted ways (relatively amicably, I thought, yet apparently not as he refuses to be my Facebook friend). Serial monogamist that I was, I started seriously dating the reporter.

HE SAID

I remember this boyfriend; he seemed very “Oh well! Que sera, sera.” I met this little guy, and I like him. It’s a bit sad he doesn’t want to be friends with Beth. If we went our separate ways, I would always want to be friends with Beth. If you can understand her, she is a great and loyal friend. She continues to be friends with people — yes, even guys — who I don’t think are worthy of her friendship. So he is making a bad choice.

SHE SAID

Eddie first appears in my journal in the Sept. 4, 1992, entry. I went to Malone’s (now Wild Wing Café) with my best girl friend and her friend, and ran into Eddie: “We told each other our life stories and then I drove him home.”

I wish I could go back in time and slap around the person I was. The reporter and I should have dated for about a month, but the soap opera dragged on for well over a year. It seems so clear now that I had no business being with someone about whom I wrote journal entries such as “We were arguing in line at Dumbo” and “The evening turned sour when I realized how unwilling he is to do the things I think are fun.”

HE SAID

I remember said evening at Malone’s. I also remember thinking, “Aaaw shiiit — she can dance too!” And I remember the reporter dude. I knew right away he really didn’t care that much about her. So I really didn’t care if he saw me talking to his girl. He cared more about going golfing than spending the day with his girlfriend. Fine with me! And thank you, kind sir! Don’t mind if I do step right on in here and steal your girlfriend.

I assure you my friends, if a man tried the things I tried in front of my face, there would be consequences.

SHE SAID

Anyway, there was a point where I was almost smart enough to ditch the reporter. Back to the journal, Jan. 10, 1993: “I went to the SCAD/Millsaps basketball game … at the game, Eddie asked me out again. He looked quite alluring, but I resisted.” And here’s one from Jan. 19, 1993: “Eddie is becoming increasingly hard to resist.” Apparently, he said to me on that day, “Let’s get married.”

Part of my resistance to Eddie had to do with the fact that he was a full-time student at SCAD in addition to being a full-time employee. Faculty and staff were/are prohibited from fraternizing with students, and I tend to be a stickler for the rules.

On Feb. 17, 1993, I wrote, “I can’t stop thinking about Eddie now. He came by today and said he was going to get permission from Richard (Rowan, the SCAD president at the time) to date me. If he does, I will.”

Well, he did, and I didn’t. Even after a permission-conveying phone call from my boss, the (amused) executive vice president, it took another 14 months for us to go on our first official date.

HE SAID

Readers, readers, readers — fear not! I  am a persistent man. Yes, I could have said “Well, later for you then, girl” but I knew she was special. If a woman can be that loyal to guys who treat her like crap, imagine what she’ll do for a man who thinks she’s great!

Up next: The first date