Innermost Thought

I've caught up with Pru in the last few days and boy, has she been busy. Her love/sex life hasn't tempered and I am continually bemused at how the girl can still shock me after all of these years. Part of that is because Pru is what I would call "sexually adventurous". Part of that, I'm discovering, is that I am at heart and much to my shock, still a bit of a "good girl". I remember growing up how badly I wanted to be perceived as being "savvy" and "modern" and was for very long stretches able to convince myself at least that I was "liberated." I suppose on most levels and compared to many people I am "liberated." But there are still lines that I am loathe to cross. Lines I've discovered that many of my friends have little or no trouble dancing about back and forth. Now I wonder if all of my friends in high school were having sex and just not telling me because they were afraid I would judge them or be dismayed. Damn, if that Catholic-school upbringing didn't take...on some levels at least. My best friends in junior high school are coming to visit at the end of this month. I plan to find out if we were all good Catholic school girls or if it was just me.

Pru doesn't suffer from the same moral codes or "maladies" that I do. As much as I might be a little personally conservative about some things, Pru takes the more French perspective. "Live and let Live." and "The Heart cannot feel what it doesn't see." I've always been fascinated by her ability to just live and follow her bliss. It's like nudists. While I agree wholeheartedly in principle the abandon of freeing oneself of clothes and shame and "letting it all hang out", I just don't see myself as ever actually being able to go there. While I might be an avid fan; I'm not really interested in playing the game myself. Fortunately for me (and you, blogreader) Pru is more than willing to let me live vicariously.

How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

A few months ago, Pru moved to a swanky new apartment in Hell's Kitchen after a good few years so far outside NYC that she was barely a New Yorker at all. Apparently the neighborhood is accepting her with open arms...and then some. One neighbor in particular proved extremely welcoming on Pru's first night.

Since Pru's furniture wasn't scheduled to be moved in until a few days later, Pru was sleeping on a blowup mattress in an empty apartment. Window treatments would come much later as you have to measure for those things so Pru was making due by using a few blankets in the bedroom and nothing in the living room. Her first night there, as she crossed the living room window she first met "Andy."

Andy lives in a building across the street, two windows to the right, and one floor up from Pru. When it comes to nudity, he is definitely more than just a fan; he's likely an all-star. He was completely naked and looking out the window in Pru's general direction that fatefull first night in her new apartment. Their eyes met and a typical New York relationship was born.

For the next few weeks Andy and Pru would catch each other at odd moments through each other's windows and communicate as best they could. Andy was an exhibitionist and was happy for many days just to "show" Pru what he thought of her. Pru's not quite so reckless. She's seen far too many issues of the Star or Post to think public nudity is a good idea for anyone who has any kind of serious aspirations. But she is completely willing to explore the possibilities of someone else's public nudity. It wasn't long at all before getting naked for Pru wasn't enough for Andy. He began to improvise and soon Pru and Andy were in a long distance relationship from a block away. Through a series of creative attempts at communication (hand signals, charades and finally, the successful sharpie-on-poster-board maneuver) Pru and Andy managed to exchange cell phone numbers and a new magic was added to their communication: texting.

Pru was completely content with the relationship as it was. Long Distance, distant, but with a playful naughtiness that kept everything exciting. Andy was not so content. Texting led to emails when they weren't on the same block looking at each other through the window. Shortly after they began emailing each other Andy wanted more- a telephone conversation, a meeting, Pru to get naked and reciprocate. They began having text-arguments. They would fight, break up, get back together, make up and fight again.

Finally, after much convincing, Pru agreed to meet Andy at his apartment....just to see if there was anything more to their relationship. As is often the case in phone affairs, the moment Pru met Andy in real life she lost interest. Reality Andy did not live up to Fantasy Andy and Fantasy Andy was becoming more of a pain in the ass. Pru stayed at Andy's apartment for an obligatory half hour of chat, left and then quit the relationship cold turkey.

Unfortunately it wasn't quite so easy. Andy was still feeling the chemistry and continued to look for Pru, text Pru, email Pru. He became snarky and bitter and petulant. It's never easy when the one you want never wants you.

Pru got window treatments. Their love affair was officially finished.

I spoke with Pru a few weeks after she got the window treatments. She said that Andy and she still saw each other occasionally in the neighborhood and eventually were able to put their torrid long distance affair behind them and become friends. I'm glad to hear it. Neighbors are neighbors and the truth is, in the close quarters of New York City it is more than likely you will see them naked once in awhile.

When I asked Pru how things were going in the rest of her lovelife she sighed, gave me the contemplative look of someone ready to unload their deepest, darkest secrets and said, "Fine, but...I'm getting really tired of dealing with other people's husbands."

And that Pru story I'll save for another time.