Of Superheroes and Men
I dreamt of love the night before and the warm, cozy feeling I woke up with stayed with me the entire day. I wondered if this could be a good omen that love was coming. After a couple of years of enduring inconsistency and mixed messages, I had courageously ended an addictive push-pull relationship. I was ready for something big and felt I was deserving. Although reluctant to go searching for love during a pandemic, I refused to use Covid-19 as an excuse to remain in a toxic situation.
Autumn was approaching and along with the crisp air came the prospect of new beginnings. I made plans to have dinner with a friend and looked forward to the people watching, one of the pluses of outdoor dining in New York City. Sure there's the noise, the dog poo, and the chance of being killed by a careening car. However, the hundreds of faces to see, though presently masked, made it all worthwhile. They each have a history, a life, places to go to or come home from. I loved inventing stories about those passersby who I found to be the most interesting to look at.
In this moment, I was the passerby when I witnessed him gently commanding his energetic pup to sit and stay beside the wobbly table. At first, it was the dog who caught my eye. A bouncing mass of blonde furriness entered my peripheral vision and I couldn't help but to direct my gaze toward the cute guy with the Dos Equis and the retriever. I instantly noticed a likeness to Captain America, who had always been among my favorite Avengers-second only to Iron Man. He was a kind and honorable superhero who represented everything that was good about this country.
As I made my way to the wine bar where I would dine with my friend, I had already created his story. But my fantasy was interrupted by the arrival of my black truffle artichoke pizza in all its glory. Soon all was forgotten about the dude and his dog and how they would venture out to save the world from darkness. The server was pouring our second glass when he walked past our table toward the crosswalk. My friend, unaware of my crush-at-first-sight commented on his good doggie and started a conversation that would last beyond what was normal and comfortable for strangers chatting in the midst of a pandemic.
We paid the check and Captain America asked me for my phone number. I gladly obliged. He told me his name which was all too American and most common, which was discouraging since I knew it would be impossible to gather any information during an ordinary Google search. But I have friends with expert-level investigative skills and by 6 a.m. the next morning, I knew all about this video game designer who hadn't been married, was childless, and 12 years my junior. Not ideal, though I had already envisioned he and my 13-year-old son gaming together. Perhaps, he did his research too and learned I was not a Millennial, but a Gen Xer, because he never called.
Captain America may be moral and virtuous, but he has that shield. The shield that always comes back to him no matter where he throws it. He always protects himself. On the other hand, Iron man relies on his intelligence and perseverance. Without his suit, he has no super powers of his own. Iron Man is vulnerable. Iron Man would have called.
