Reality of Fiction

Do you ever imagine conversations that you haven't had with people? It can be a conversation that you are dreading/planning to have with a friend or colleague or boss. Or a conversation that you may or may not ever even have with the person. It could be with a total stranger that you pass on the street or the conversation that would ensue should you ever meet that celebrity. For example, the conversation that I expect to have should I ever meet Jason Mraz would go something like this:

Me: Hello, Jason Mraz. I am obviously a fan because I had to wait in line for so long to meet you, but I'm not here to have another fade away fan conversation or to alert you to the fact that you have a freak stalker fan that wants to kill you or anything.

Jason: So this is different?

Me: Yes. And don't take that joke seriously. You know like in Forgetting Sarah Marshall how he -

Jason: -sees her for the first time in Hawaii and makes that joke. Of course. It's a great movie. What's your point?

Me: Right. My point is that I feel like we are supposed to be friends. Every time I hear your music I feel like that. And I know your music isn't hard to relate to and there are a lot of other people that like it too, but don't get the impression that I am only intrigued by your music. I'm not. Some of the lyrics are good, but none of it's really all that impressive. Which is why it's so relatable.

Jason: That's kind of mean. Why are you telling me all this?

Me: I'm not saying it to be mean. I'm just saying that it's not because of your songs that I want to be friends with you exactly. It's more the idea that you present of yourself, which, admittedly is through your songs, but it's something else. I just think we should be friends is what it comes down to.

Jason: You and me? Well, that's kind of weird.

Me: I know it is. I thought so too. But trust me. I'm not a freak. I'm not exactly sure why you should believe that, but I think you should.

Jason: So you think we should be friends because of the idea I present through my songs that suck?

Me: Kind of. It's more that the idea of your style mixes well with what I know about my style. I think we would click. I also think that you're probably a reasonably intelligent person and you remind me of a friend of mine. Not that I really know you.

Jason: Yeah, you don't. But I don't know you either, right?

Me: See. We're on the same page here. I knew you would get it.

Jason: So who are you?

Me: Oh! Right. I'm Kate Robinson. And I'm going to give you my phone number not in order to become your next hook up, but so we can be friends. Because it must be lonely on the road. Or a whole lot of fun where you never get lonely. In that case, I still think we would be good friends.

Jason: So I'm supposed to call you?

Me: Yep.

Jason: Next time I'm in Charlotte?

Me: Unless you want to fly me to wherever you happen to be.

Jason: And you're not a freak fan?

Me: Jason. I'm obviously not, okay? I'm leaving this up to you, not begging for your number. I would be way too awkward to call you. I don't want to be that person.

Jason:Great. Well I'm convinced. I could use someone like you in my life. I'll give you a call.

Me: I'm glad you agree. It's been lovely talking with you.