Alexander Riley

So facebook has the "suggested friends" section and today it happened to show a familiar face I hadn't dwelt on in a while.

As the story goes, I was at a new low in my dating life. Few prospects, no dates, things were slow, I was frustrated. To cope, I did what any rational 21 year old girl would do. I made up a boyfriend.

His name was Alexander Riley, inspired by Alder Riley's syndrome (I'd been studying in hematology a little too long). Alexander was a fine specimen of my creative mind. He was an aspiring young Med student determined to become a Pediatrician. He was planning on volunteering at clinics in third world countries, particularly orphanages. Alexander was a great outdoors-man, loving camping, biking, most sports in general. He was funny, kind, nerdy, churchy, and musical. Since I'm a firm believer that there's no such thing as a perfect person, I decided he should probably like country music. Handsome and virtuous, thoughts of Alexander consoled me in my singledom.

Then, one fine day I met Alexander, or rather, a man who was the living incarnate of my fictional lover. We met at a YSA fireside and dinner. He was tall, dark, handsome, a Med Student aspiring to go into pediatrics, funny, spiritual, outdoorsy... Our eyes briefly met during the fireside and afterward he came straight up to me to introduce himself. We only talked for 15 minutes so we never got around to discussing tastes in music but needless to say I was smitten. I figured someday I could move back to Minnesota, marry "Alexander", and save orphans. It sounded like a good plan.

However, plans change. I never did move back to Minnesota. Dreams of Alexander soon dissolved as other boys and fancies filled my girlish mind. However, sometimes I can't help but wonder what would have happened if fate had brought the two of us together... Guess I'll have to keep trying to conquer the world solo 'til someone not imaginary comes charging into my life.

Well, its about time I started hunting for Uric Acid Crystals in this synovial fluid. : )