Author: thighsgentlyparting

The Seminar

Air travel is so hectic these days, with all the security and long lines, that I was happy to have been upgraded to first class. I was even able to snag a Diet Coke while the other passengers were boarding. The flight was full, and the remaining passengers were boarding when a quite attractive lady in business attire stopped my seat.

“Excuse me, I believe I am beside you in 2-A” she said pleasantly with a very nice smile. And I was quite happy to be seated next to this lady for the next 3-1/2 hours, rather than some overweight guy in shorts and a tank top.

I stood and stepped aside to let her in to her seat.

“Hi, I’m Matt”, I said to her once we were situated.

“Hi Matt, I’m Sandy” she said as she asked the flight attendant for a glass of wine.

We chatted prior to takeoff about our destination, San Francisco, whether we had been there before, favorite restaurants and such. Checking her phone before departure, she had a text message from someone, which caused her to tear up, saying “damn you” under her breath.

“Is something wrong?” I asked. Read more »

The Funeral [MF]

The Funeral – A short story

It has been said that the sex you have after going to a funeral is always the best sex. Maybe because we lose our feeling of immortality, maybe a desire to be wanted, to be held. I don’t know.

I had left an appointment Tuesday afternoon, and was headed back to my hotel to get some work done on another project, when my rental car just stopped. I was fortunate to have coasted off the edge of the road and out of the traffic, but it was not going any further. I have two mid-1950s Chevy street rods back home, which I rebuilt on my own. However, getting a 2016 Dodge Challenger running again was beyond my capabilities – way too much computer stuff in these cars. I called the rental car company, explained the problem and was told they would have another car at my hotel later in the day. Only about a mile from my hotel, I grabbed my briefcase and started walking.

I had only walked a few feet from my car when a nice, older Mercedes coupe went by, then stopped and backed up. Asking if I needed a ride, I told her I was headed to the Hilton about a mile up the street, and would appreciate a ride there. Read more »

Childhood Friends [MF]

Childhood Friends

Part 1

Funny how things happen. After some substantial financial setbacks, my husband, Brian, and I ended up living back in the Midwest, in the old farm home where I had grown up. It was quite a step down from the gulf-front home we had lived in previously, but we had managed to make it as homey as we could.

Brian had finally found work, but it required him to travel through the week most of the time. I had not yet found another job, so kept myself busy working in the yard and repairing the old house.

On this hot and humid 92 degree summer day, I was mowing our two acres of grass. After about 20 minutes I stopped and changed from my shorts and t-shirt into a two piece swim suit – my rather skimpy “sunning bikini” as I called it in more leisure times of the past when working on my tan on the beach. But I guess it’s just as easy working on a tan while mowing grass. There were so few cars coming down this deserted road we lived on that I could have probably gone naked and no one would have seen me. Read more »

The Guitar Man [FM]

Atlanta – December 2014
The Guitar Man

One week before Christmas. I had planned on being home for the Holidays by now, baking and putting the final decorating touches around the house. Most of my family had already arrived at the house, relaxing and enjoying themselves. But business had kept me longer than anticipated.

While walking the final four blocks to the Omni in downtown Atlanta, even with my overcoat on I was drenched from the rain. Approaching the hotel, a young man was sitting near the doorway. I opened my purse and pulled out a bill to hand him, knowing that all of us need a helping hand at sometime. Instead of taking the bill, he waved it away, asking if it would be possible to use my cell phone. Hesitating to hand my phone over, I asked if I could dial the number for him. I dialed the number he gave me, and as I handed the phone to him it was obvious that he was not someone who had spent long “on the streets”. His hands were soft, and his young face was innocent.

I could hear someone answer the phone. Read more »

The Taking of Sarah [MF]

First of a series relating “opportunities” as I have traveled…..

The Taking of Sarah

The first time I noticed her was at a party for her 42nd birthday. The ladies at the local library were having a party for Sarah behind the check-out desk, complete with balloons, a big “Happy Birthday” sign, cake and punch.

This was my third trip to the library in this town of 22,000 people, having taken a contract job in a large nearby city. I much prefer small town living, and still only had a 25 minute commute to work.

I design and set up offices for sports medicine and physical therapy offices, my “experience” being I played linebacker at a major college football program, but tore a knee my senior year. So much for the pros. However, I did continue to work out, keeping my 6’6”, 285 pound body in shape.

I also read – a lot. Primarily spy and intrigue novels, especially when the good guys are going after the bad German Nazi’s or the old U.S.S.R. KGB. So getting a local library card was a priority. Read more »