When have I ever given you the impression that I'm nice?

Apparently, once too often.

Remember the kindly, deaf, old gentleman that I so enjoy seeing around my apartment complex? The one I leave my empty pop cans to recycle? He's becoming a little too kindly.

It started out randomly, of course. We would see each other over the past couple of weeks and he'd have a big 'ol smile, a sweaty side-hug.....and a kiss on the cheek. It makes me cringe, just reliving it. But, being as polite as I am, I didn't shrink away. I didn't wave my arms at him to let him know that was off limits. I'm too damn nice.

Yesterday, I left my apartment at around 6:20a.m. It's dark at 6:20. Guess who I ran into on my way to my garage? Yep, you guessed it. Actually, we ran into each other right in front of my garage. Side hug. Cheek kiss. *sigh*

THIS MORNING, I find him sitting on the stoop right outside my building's door at 6:45. Fate would have it, I was carrying a case of empty pop cans to deliver to his garage door. Since he was sitting right there, I gave them to him. No side hug. No cheek kiss. BUT, he then proceeded to walk with me. I thought maybe he was going to his garage. Nope. He was walking me to mine. Can you imagine my confusion when he didn't stop at his garage? When he continued to walk with me to mine? When, after I opened my garage door, waved good-bye to him, he turned around and walked back the way we had come?

My first thought was, "Oh, this is not good. This is not going to happen on a daily basis. I'm not that damn friendly." Remember my post about being the conversational equivalent of a hit & run? This is worse. How do you make small talk with a deaf man? You don't. Plain and simple.

And, it's not over yet!

I pulled out of my garage, put the door down, and turned to leave the parking lot. Guess who I see? Yep, you guessed it again. Not very difficult questions, are they? He was just standing there, by the sidewalk, waiting for me to pull away.

I swear to you, if this happens again tomorrow, I will be completely flummoxed. And have to move.