Fine Feeling

first time i saw her, i nearly dropped my tray.
we were checking out at Grady Memorial Hospital's cafeteria.

Her white coat covered her tone physique like a fresh blanket of snow. "... and she's a doctor," I thought to myself. Not only was she grown, a professional healer in the southeast's top public medical facility, but she was rise-from-the-grave sexy. The catch phrase luring many 20-30 something young adults to the club scene couldn't be more accurate. But, with her it wasn't a marketing gimmick. Grown and Sexy. Still Fine. Scratch that. Fine. Straight up and down fine as all get-up at 40-50 somethin'. And she made no hesitations about letting her left hand linger on the metal counter top. Long enough for me to notice her noticing me, noticing her... Like I didn't know. Like I was the only man with eyes... No, I was sure as my smile that she'd been seen, courted, and claimed. I pursed my lips and slowly turned my head to the side. Fine. She was operating on me. Fine. I positioned my self within sight of her. If this was as close as I would ever get, then this was it. Without coveting her for more than a few seconds- I enjoyed just looking at her from a short, non-confrontational, and subtle distance.

I ate my lunch with a little grin. She'd flashed her ring. (Which could serve as the skating venue for the winter Olympics) How hot is it that she saw me checking her out and threw up the the picket fence?!

A week later, I saw her again. This time she sat near where I was. Funny what things silences say. She caught my attention again, like hearing your favorite song coming from the car next to you... - I looked fast, without thinking..and there was the face, the shape, the badge...her permed hair, and the intensity of my attraction. Again, subtle acknowledgement of my excitement in the silent parts of fleeting eye contact.

This continued for a month. There was even a season I ate lunch in the rehab conference room in order to experience a hospital staff lunch... to join in light conversation, to hear what the pros talk about over Tupperware and tea. She'd even crossed my mind in off weeks from the cafeteria...

Then on the first spectacularly hot day I saw her in a couture sun dress... Vibrantly colorful, detailed patterns within the fabric, yellow, red, ... she was brilliant as the weather. And I beamed as well! On this day, our silence seemed to say, "hey, there you are! You know I actually thought about you when I didn't see you?" I was kinda blown away again. Young, me, in my bright red volunteer scrub top... ogling over this gorgeous doc, who was completely married...out of my league and still fine as what?! It was my lucky day. I'd definitely be having lunch in the public cafeteria. she sat near where I was sitting. Now, I've felt nurses and other hospital staff of all colors and ages staring at me. but, with her it was an opening of the clouds when during her meal, she looked me square in the face and gave me what I wanted. To see her walnut complected womanly beauty. To feel her eyes. To have a glimpse into her mind. to know we were aligned, for just a second. To make her feel sexy...still... -whoa. THE FULL FRONTAL FEMALE ASSAULT! that was the flyest two seconds I've had at Grady. And forreal, it was dope how we'd crossed paths before and on a day she felt great, she shared some of her joy with me.

Weeks passed and I spent time focused on my physics II class. Without much time for volunteering, I returned to Grady yesterday, realizing it had been a while since I'd eaten in the cafeteria. No sign of Dr. Fine, but it was cool.

Later that night (last night, 7-09-08) I was invited to Django to celebrate a fellow Cancer's b-day. I was lookin hip and had my golfers cap pulled down kinda low. The crowd was not my usual swing, folks my parents age there gettin a lil sloppy to their favorite oldies. I was there to hear the band- which was of my peers- and to celebrate... Before the band got started I bopped in place to familiar old school jams...When the DJ played The Blackbyrds "Rock Creek Park" I took my first stroll through Django's and who do I see at the bar, but Dr. Fine. I was sure of it as I passed her, but was floored by the circumstance. I got a few feet by her, and looked over my shoulder. Our eyes met, she too lookin over her left shoulder. I kept it forward moving. I smiled to myself. No drinks tonight. I was already lifted.

And when she soon brushed against my sleeve, nothin needed to be said. I looked good in my solid peach button down with navy slacks. As did she in black pants and a white top. The favor of the pursuit of happiness...This stuff really does happen and after all I've endured since December 2006, it's worth believing in. Circumstances, moments, glances, eye-contact, the un-said, the revelation of prior thoughts in the present, the gift of life and sight beyond sight... God has smiled upon me. He sends me beautiful visions of mother nature...after the storm there is sunshine ...

-delano
p.s. "this is dedicated to all those trying to stay afloat"