I have a friend who is the quintessential dude.
Not “dude” as in Big-Lebowski-esque dude, but the frat boy kind that hits the gym twice a day and eats protein bars everyday [which even he agrees taste absolutely disgusting]. He openly admits to feeling weird when he doesn’t have at least two beers in both hands, and has a very defined concept of what girls should look like.
Given the fact that I’m no delicate flower in heels and short skirts, in my friend’s eyes, I conveniently [and fortunately] fall into that gray area between “guy friends” and “girls I’d hit.” Probably closer to the “guy friends” though.
Still, I’ve noticed that he’s the only one out of my group of we-survived-studying-together-for-all-of-1L-year friends [who are all male] to actually still treat me like a girl. Just when I was starting to think I’d achieved “guy friend” status.
But despite the sometimes unasked for and unnecessary advice he might give [“if you want to impress a guy, let him watch the game and bring beer”], it’s still sort of nice that someone’s picking up on the fact that I’m not a total dude [yet]. I was starting to think that that was limited to bike mechanics and polo friends.
It sometimes results in awkwardness though. Like when a bike mechanic/friend excuses his language before swearing. True, people might not be fully aware that I swear like a sailor but I end up at a loss for words. It makes me start to think that maybe people think I am a delicate flower, not the tank dropping f-bombs.
That’s exactly what happened when I picked up some new tires [Halo Twin Rail ones] yesterday at Boston Bicycle. Dan excused his language before he used the word “fuck.” As usual, I sort of just blinked and spluttered. Awkward. Still, that didn’t keep me from unashamedly dancing around my apartment in happiness and excitement after fitting the aforementioned tires to my pink rim. It’s so cute. In all its candy-coated glory.
Maybe I’m starting to accept this whole “being a girl” thing more.
Tags: boston bicycle · frat boy · girl · halo twin rail · pink · swearing6 Comments
6 responses so far ↓
In cycling, pink and white are not girl colors.
Peep Rapha if you doubt me.
pink was traditionally a male color until it was used to single out homosexuals during hitlers reign. Your history lesson for the day. Also, I LOVE BOMBPROOF RAINBOWS
i am glad you made a point to separate the dead beat class of dude (like myself) from the frat guy type, but the lack of two beers in my hands makes me feel uncomfortable as well (though that maybe more related to cycling in the way the color pink is).
Pink is still awesome in it’s own special pink way. And yeah, those wheels are going to look awesome when they’re built up.
Sooooo, about the whole “delicate flower” business, would this be a bad time to let you know about some of the surprise graphics I’ve slapped on your frame?
I mean, I explicitly recall you possibly saying something in passing about maybe loving ponies, seashells, magic pixie rainbows and daisies. I’m just saying….
natalya – yes! i can still qualify for guy status!
jeff – wow, did not know. thanks!
pete! – just because you drink white russians in a bathrobe when you paint does not make you a deadbeat.
eric – i CANNOT WAIT!!! (but you know this by now)
erich – i hope it involves rhinestones. and sequins.