Still Yearning For My UPS Man 

If you’ve read my book, then you might remember Chapter 1, in which I had my very first crush as a single mom.

Yes, it was on my UPS man, whom I’d met when we squeezed into the elevator together of my apartment building. That afternoon, it was just him, Mae (on my hip), me, and his massive rolling cart.

Although nothing happened between us — except a goodbye hug on the street corner before I moved out to Cali — he and I have called each other a handful of times.

A few years ago, during a summer visit to NYC, I tracked down Otis, my UPS man, in our old ‘hood. He looked exactly the same. No, actually, he looked better. He had a girlfriend.

Amazingly, he still had a photo of Mae taped inside his truck. I told him how nerdy my UPS man in California was, and he laughed. That was that.

Before you accuse me of having “a thing” for men in uniform, let me set you straight: I think it’s just a thing I have for men in uniform who deliver packages.

So, get this: Mae and I are headed to NYC in two weeks and… I called Otis. He called back a few hours later. When I answered the phone, it sounded like there were big trucks rolling past. Was he working on a Sunday?

Him: “I’m at the laundry mat.”

Me: “You’re calling me while you’re washing laundry?” (Call me a weirdo, but I found this really sweet. A man who washes his own underwear is very sexy in my book.)

His voice is still so sweet. I asked about his daughter, he asked about Mae. And then, the hook: he told me that he and his girlfriend have split up.

He says that he’d like to see me in NYC. (I don’t think he has read the book; if he had, I’m sure he wouldn’t see me.) I know it’s cliche, having a crush on my UPS man. Maybe you’ve read love that poem by Alice N. Persons?

“Why I Have A Crush On You, UPS Man,” in which Alice writes: “you bring me all the things I order are never in a bad mood… we have an ideal uncomplicated relationship you’re like a cute boyfriend with great legs who always brings the perfect present (why, it’s just what I’ve always wanted!) and then is considerate enough to go away”)

Anyway, I’m already thinking that Otis and I will have a family-friendly rendezvous, say, a play date at the park where we’ll get some ice cream with Mae.

But maybe I should suggest an adults-only get together after hours? What do you think? I’m kind of nervous.