The First Ghost

Started writing my Reminiscing blog post when this random Adventure in Online Dating memory popped into my head.  It was unusual in that, we actually went on a couple of dates and the third time we met up, it was for her college graduation party, bachelor's but she had a late start on it so she was in her early 30s by the time she got her degree.  Anyway, she was really comfortable with me and us to the point that she was already talking about doing events in the coming months.  We met in May on Match, I think.  I'm pretty sure it was Match.  This should have been sometime around 2004-05ish? 
She was so excited about things we were going to do together, she even started talking about attending the Labyrinth of Jareth event in August.  For those unfamiliar, it's a masquerade ball where the patrons are encouraged to dress as fantasy characters.  And Miss, I cannot remember her name but I think it was Shannon, already had hers picked out and that meant I was going to be pressed to go as her partner/opposite.  In this case, she was working on a peacock costume, she was going to get fitted for a corset in the appropriate color palette, feathers and mask, the whole regalia.  Which meant that, to go as a couple, I was going to have to come up with my own peahen costume.  Not sure how familiar you are with the avian traits but, like much of the animal kingdom, it's the males that are the bright, colorful specimens while the females are often drab, dull creatures.  

Peacock & Peahen
©birdeden.com

So here I go looking for muted brown plumage for my Peahen costume, I buy the LOJ ticket and get to work on putting together my costume.  And curiously, Shannon kind of drops out of contact.  Mind you, I had just seen her at her sister's place in Temecula and she even pointed me in the right direction to find the correct color feathers to start building from.  But I'm still plugging away and still not a peep from her for nearly 2 weeks.  Very odd that she's not replying to calls or emails.  Texting was still .10 cents a message so no to that.  But still.  

Finally about mid-July, still over a month away from the Ball, I finally hear from Shannon.  
"Hey, I just want to let you know, I moved to Vegas.  I already found a job and am renting a room from a friend."  

Say what?  Holy fuck, are you kidding me?!  Just up and moved to another state on a whim?  What kind of sketchy shit is that?  Did you not know you were maybe going to move?  

To be totally honest, I have no idea what she said after she told me she had already moved.  I was disappointed and a little pissed.  Disappointed that she just felt like moving away, not even that we were at the start of a thing.  I mean, 3 dates isn't exactly a commitment but you'd think maybe mention that you were looking at moving out of state?  And pissed because I just dropped a good chunk of change on a ticket and pieces for a costume that I'm not about to fucking finish.  Fuck, I would never have chosen a Peahen as a costume if it were just me.  

I stayed on the ball's mailing list for years!  I think I still get mailed invites every few years but haven't ever gone myself to date.  

As for Miss Shannon in Vegas?  Not a clue.  After that phone call, I never spoke to her again.  She did offer to pay me back for the masquerade ball ticket money that I was out.  Nah, keep it.  I'm not going to ask anything of you.  You already ghosted me once.  Not again.