Creep Appeal

When I was in my teens is when it first became apparent. If there was a weirdo, strange person, wacko, whatever derogatory term you want to use for someone who is just a little off or sometimes a lot off, they would be drawn to me. So much so that my friends told me I had "creep appeal". Sometimes it was really harmless, I'd have a little chat with the off person and it would end there. But one time in particular it became really problematic when the most psychotic guy in the neighbourhood, decided out of the blue, that he was in love with me.

I had been in high school with this poor soul and probably never said more than a few words to him. It had been years since I had seen him when I saw him one day on the bus. It was obvious that he had become very unwell and was psychotic. I felt badly for him, but we didn't speak or even make eye contact. Of course, true to creep appeal form, a few nights later he called to ask me out for a date. Not wanting to upset him and definitely not wanting to go out with him, I told him that I had a boyfriend already. Thus began a year of phone calls, flowers, nights outside the house yelling how much he loved me, calls from his probation officer asking if we were getting married, parka wearing in summer while playing bongos on the sidewalk, people on the street asking me if we were getting married and graffiti all over the neighbourhood with his and my name in a heart. It culminated with me having to get a restraining order. I felt terrible through the whole thing because he was so clearly unwell, but at the same time he scared the crap out of me and my friends. I am not sure what happened to him, I haven't seen him in the old neighbourhood in years.

There have been many other instances of the creep appeal, most not as extreme as that, but some as recently as Tuesday night. I had the pleasure of attending the Annie Lennox concert at Massey Hall. There were actually two occurrences that night. When my friend and I approached the entrance she handed her ticket over. I began to walk in and the ticket taker told me that he only had been given one ticket. I told him no my friend has mine, she then said that no she had given it to me weeks ago. No I said, I was certain that she had not. Yes, she said you were on drugs then. Really, I was shocked by my complete lack of memory of this at all. What else have I completely forgotten? Suddenly it came back to me. It was in my day timer in the car. Unbeknownst to me a slightly off guy was listening to this whole exchange and while my friend and began to walk to my car he tagged along asking if my car was far and would I be listening to Annie Lennox in the car and did I listen to her on the way down.

Later once we were in our seats waiting for Annie to come on, I was telling my friend where my seats for Neil Young were. The woman on my left, said "Oh you have Neil Young tickets I love him." Not really a big deal that she said this, she's just friendly I thought to myself, which was actually opposite to my initial impression of her which was sort of uptight and fussy. But when she reached over and squeezed my knee I was a bit taken back. I let it go. When the show finally started a few minutes later this woman started cheering and bouncing in her seat. Suddenly, she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. I was staring at my friend with a what the hell is she doing look. A few songs later she leaned over and said, sorry I was just really excited. No problem I told her. Why she didn't hug the guy she was with is another story.

The show was fantastic. The sound was excellent and what a great performer Annie Lennox is. She also looks amazing for a 52 year old. As my friend said it is nice to see that a woman in her fifties is sexy. And a woman in her 40's still has her creep appeal fully functioning.