Alone in Atlanta: Hey Stranger
Today, we have a wonderful writer buddy of mine who coordinates the singles’ event I attended last month. She writes a column, Alone in Atlanta, which clearly makes her a prime candidate to share her misadventures in Atlanta with us! Please join me in welcoming Brittany!
Atlanta is a world all in its own. It has the potential to be a small world, running into people in places you least expected. And it has the potential to be a big world, never seeing people that only live stop lights away.
I’m also learning that Atlanta has the potential to be a strange world. I guess I’m a resident of the “strange world” because I am constantly greeted with the phrase “Hey Stranger”.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve dated guys and for one reason or another, they fall off the face of the earth. Weeks….months….even years go by and somehow they find me in the “strange world” and contact me using the official greeting people nation wide have agreed upon: Hey Stranger.
Just recently, I met a really nice guy and we began to date. Things were going well and out of nowhere he started to disappear. I used to be really bad about jumping to conclusions and assuming the worse. So now, before I write people off, I make sure they’re ok first. Because in these times, there’s always the possibility something could’ve happened. After sending my standard “are you ok?” text, I received a reply of “yeah, I’m fine. Awww, you missed me?” Seeing that nothing was physically or mentally wrong with him (outside the fact that he wasn’t calling), I proceeded to let him know that I was just checking on him and casually went about by business.
Weeks went by, and just like the many times before, I was found in the “strange world” and greeted with “Hey Stranger” followed with “Haven’t heard from you”…
Every time I look down at my phone when I get the official greeting, a few things run through my mind: When did I become estranged? How did my number, address, and all other forms of contact stay the same but you weren’t able to find me this entire time? How come everyone else seems to know where I am but I was only estranged to you?
They can be 16 years old or 65. It could’ve been 2 weeks since you last heard from them or 5 years. No matter what the logistics are of the situation, this time honored phrase never seems to run its course. And 9 times out of 10, we entertain the greeting, giving everyone that uses it the impression that it’s effective and to keep it going until we finally decide not to allow those who chose to be estranged from us back in our lives.
I only hope one day, enough of us will choose to become estranged from the “Hey Strangers” of the past and start to answer to the possibility of wanting more than a second thought in our future.
Brittany Manson
Alone in Atlanta
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600 comments Add your comment
Luvbug
June 3rd, 2010
3:04 pm
uhhh Trevor..the 60 year old stripper is the one crushing the cans with her boobs..
Man, I cannot breathe right now!!
I am whatever you say I am
June 3rd, 2010
3:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
I watch The Hangover a lot these days since it is on HBO.
I got the DVD as a Christmas present. I only look at the disc with the additional pictures. Some of those pictures are wild.
Hangover 2 comes out Memorial Day 2011.
I am whatever you say I am
June 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
AOL @ Prain post about Double D
Melo
June 3rd, 2010
3:06 pm
that was not an invitation for a one male review of you to the highly spiritual women of the blog
@LUBUG?
U getting better with each passing day
Im inviting u ladies to a female stripp joint..an assortment of ladies and guys..more chics,the better..
If u behave,then we can organise a male review thang,maybe at that club in college park..but just for gelrz.
mytw♥cents
June 3rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Y’all are silly. How exactly does one regulate a booty clap? Is nothing sacred? I think the Stripper’s Union should organize against that. What’s gonna set you apart from the next dancer if you can’t boast of your specialized training?
Yeah, being natural can be expensive, but so were my perms & short n sassy dos cuz I had standing appointments and I’m willing to pay to get it right. Whateva, I’m gonna find a way to enjoy the salon experience either way. That’s why mostly, I ♥ being a girl!
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:07 pm
Hangover 2 comes out Memorial Day 2011.
OMG!!!!! Didn’t know there was going to be a 2!!! Gotta text the SO, can’t wait!!!!
Trevor0529
June 3rd, 2010
3:09 pm
uhhh Trevor..the 60 year old stripper is the one crushing the cans with her boobs..
Kym, thank you for the clarification.
Luvbug
June 3rd, 2010
3:09 pm
Melo – You know I aint going to that. I’m just pullin your chain. LOL
I have seen a male review though. It wasn’t my cup of tea. I don’t think I would care to see women.
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:09 pm
I have no idea what you all are talking about but I agree with this.
Funny, folks can give us a hard time about being from here, yet they’re LIVING here!
Just had a man tell me yesterday that I don’t sound like I am from Atlanta. Funny thing is everyone I pretty much know personally that was born and raised in Atlanta sounds about like me.
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
Kym
You know the area of town in which I live. So, you know what is around here. My wife had the nerve to mention that we have plenty of liquor stores, Churches, Wing/Fish Places, and Hair salons than we can shake a stick at.
I look at her and said…”After 8 years, you just noticed that?” We don’t have to go far for strip clubs either.
I am whatever you say I am
June 3rd, 2010
3:11 pm
<——listening to Black Rob like Whoa!
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:12 pm
Hey Raqita!
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:12 pm
I ♥ being a girl!
So do I. Love it. Like my marido says “girls” are pretty, soft and smell good. I love being that. LOL
It's me....lurker
June 3rd, 2010
3:12 pm
where’s my post??!!
Kym-I am my own Grandma
June 3rd, 2010
3:12 pm
Well I am proud to be from the Atlanta I know..now as for this foolishness going on now..I don’t claim those jokers!
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
Hey, Kimmie.
I read you saying you watched Hangover twice. I watched “My Sister’s Keeper” twice this past week. It is running on HBO now. If you get a chance to watch it. Very good movie.
It's me....lurker
June 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
was it skank or stripper or skrapper that got me blocked
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
Kimmie
My best friend says that any movie that makes money will usually have a sequel. Of course, he said that as we were leaving Weekend at Bernie 2. If that movie can have a sequel, any movie can have a sequel.
Leggs
June 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
Had to shut this dude down. He just called asking “how I’m doing.” Told him I’m well. Trying to make idle talk. Had to interrupt him and tell him there’s no reason for him to be calling chatting me up. He started huffing and puffing stating “he thought he met a new friend.” Let him know we are not friends, and I’m not trying to get to know anyone who’s already involved. He said he respected that and said good bye! I love gentlemen (even if they’re trying to play a game)!
It's me....lurker
June 3rd, 2010
3:13 pm
skank + stipper = skrapper
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:14 pm
Poppa – Speaking of Lindt chocolate truffles, do you like the white chocolate ones? My SO loves them, they are delicious.
Luvbug
June 3rd, 2010
3:15 pm
Just had a man tell me yesterday that I don’t sound like I am from Atlanta.
I hate that just as much as the ghetto/country assumption…especial when the Georgia folks they’re referring to aren’t usually from here…and especially when you can tell that the person assuming came straight out of the ghetto and country place of what every state/city they migrated from.
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:15 pm
Speaking of Black Rob, did he get out of jail?
The Sean Combs curse is still in effect.
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:15 pm
Raqi – Will do definitely! I was looking for something good this past weekend to watch and couldn’t find anything.
It's me....lurker
June 3rd, 2010
3:16 pm
Leggs, you’re doing the right thing. Cutting back on bullcrap one dweeb at a time
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:18 pm
Leggs – SMH!!!!
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:20 pm
Kimmie, I watched Blindside Sunday and I give that movie a C+. It was too choppy.
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:21 pm
Kimme
Speaking of Lindt chocolate truffles, do you like the white chocolate ones? My SO loves them, they are delicious.
I am going to call my sister in law and send her the bill for rehab. She and my brother in law hosted a fishfry this weekend and she had those things in a candy dish on her coffee table. I couldn’t stop eating them. She had the dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. She said that Target had them on sale this week.
I went and saw 2.99 per package and there wasn’t that many in the bag. 2.99 was the freaking sales price! But being the addict that I am, I still bought them. Which is why I am admitting that I have a problem.
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:21 pm
Leggs, who is this guy if you don’t mind me asking? Did you give him your number and now he won’t go away? Did he make a good impression and is now being too pushy?
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:22 pm
The problem is that I liked them all.
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:22 pm
Raqi- I agree, entertaining but overrated. Choppy describes it well.
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:24 pm
Which is why I am admitting that I have a problem.
Well Poppa, that’s a good first step!LOL!!!
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:26 pm
Kimmie…FYI, they are on sale until 5/8
http://www.totallytarget.com/2010/05/03/lindt-truffles-unadvertised-special-purchase-deal/
kimmie
June 3rd, 2010
3:28 pm
I am going by Tar-jay on the way home! Thanks!
And I am definitely going to pick up some of the dark chocolate ones for myself. My SO hates dark chocolate, but I love it! In fact, milk chocolate is almost too sweet for me now, but those truffles are DIVINE!
free to be (F2B)
June 3rd, 2010
3:28 pm
i liked the Blind Side. thought it was pretty good.
i am happy to see that we are on page five and there is not foolcutting going on…lol. progress, progress.:)
meanwhile, the traffic is REALLY thick out there. i was surprised since it was only 3 o’clock. maybe it was a big deal to me b/c i’m not used to being out in traffic at that time.
Dig That
June 3rd, 2010
3:29 pm
<—-From the AAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Luvbug
June 3rd, 2010
3:29 pm
Good your transition is going well My2. In my case, my hair expense is pretty low. I’ve never done fake hair and only get touch ups every 6-8 weeks. I trim it myself. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t look raggedy. It’s usually down, except when I’m exercising. I get compliments on it, but I don’t pay a whole lot to maintain it.
The first year (at least) of a natural would be an expense increase for me.
I am whatever you say I am
June 3rd, 2010
3:29 pm
ALOL @ skrapper
Poppa: didn’t know
Black Rob was locked up.
I know Shyne was locked up
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:30 pm
I thought that the Blindside was ok. However, I have trouble believing that she stood up to that drug dealer…in Memphis. I’ve been to some
c’mon, son
Melo
June 3rd, 2010
3:31 pm
Y’all are silly. How exactly does one regulate a booty clap? Is nothing sacred? I think the Stripper’s Union should organize against that. What’s gonna set you apart from the next dancer if you can’t boast of your specialized training?
@Tatas!!
of all the numerous posts today,urs is the most cerebral of them all!
good job!
Melo
June 3rd, 2010
3:34 pm
I am from africa but living happily, like im in africa again, in Dekalb neegraw county.
I miss Vernon Jones! (hate Burrell)
Poppa Grande now a Lindt Chocolate Truffle Addict
June 3rd, 2010
3:36 pm
Yeah, he was arrested for Armed Robbery.
He is out now. He was released on May 4, 2010. He did BET interview 2 hours after being released.
Sean Combs artist don’t sustain success
Biggie was killed, Craig Mack is probably on a Milk Carton, Shyne went to jail, 112 fought to be released and then basically disbanded, the Lox never really reached success under his label, Mase gave it for his calling to preach.
Faith Evans is the only one to make it past 2 CDs.
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:37 pm
Free, I am all for “happy” but that movie was too damn happy. It was too much. It clearly overlooked the obstacles that are faced when in real situations such as that. The husband smiled too much. The kids were too “okay” with everything from the start. It doesn’t happen like that in real life.
If I told my husband to turn the car around so we can go back and pick up some strange boy walking down the street so we can bring him to sleep in our house he is going to say that I am out of my damn mind. Now he would be willing to help him after finding out more about him but the way that movie had it is just not reality.
Purple Rain
June 3rd, 2010
3:38 pm
Raqi, How are you?
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:38 pm
Poppa, I agree. That movie was too unreal. Like I said it was choppy. They left out all the stuff in between.
Raqi
June 3rd, 2010
3:39 pm
I am fine Purple Rain. Sleepy but fine.
Who are you? LOL How do I know you?
Leggs
June 3rd, 2010
3:40 pm
@Raqi ~ apparently this dude was a party Saturday and got a number from some lady he was talking to. Well, she gave him a bogus number (mine). He liked my laugh and my accent (which isn’t very strong anymore) and offered to take me to lunch. He left me a voicemail this morning. I returned his call, and that’s when he told me he had a SO but wasn’t happy with her. Dagnabit, can’t these men come up with better lines. You guys do know that’s an instant RED FLAG!
And here I’m thinking perhaps it was an omen he dialed the wrong number and we started laughing and chatting, but like it’s me…lurker states, k.i.m. one dweeb at at time!
I am whatever you say I am
June 3rd, 2010
3:40 pm
Poppa: Lil Kim made it past 2 cds as well
It's me....lurker
June 3rd, 2010
3:42 pm
He liked my laugh and my accent (which isn’t very strong anymore)
Leggs where are you from?