A Year in Rugged Fox
Sweet Meryl, what a year this has been! As the final days of 2021 are upon us, I have decided to pour a glass of wine, and take a look back at this past year. From calling it quits with Pandemic Pete, to getting swept up by Theodore J. Nelson, there has been no shortage of drama in the gentleman caller department. Scrolling through the last twelve months, I have captured images that helped inspire each post. Join me as we take a look back at this chapter! I will be back with more stories in the new year and wish you my most handsome regards until then. Yours in red hair and wine - RF.
The Fox and the Cougar
On a Monday afternoon in February 2021, Rugged treats himself to Happy Hour at the local Cactus Club. Taking a sip of house white, he nearly drops his glass, when he realizes he is seated directly across from a cougar. A sheet of Plexiglass is the only thing protecting him. Will he get pounced?
“I am not her prey! Apart from a flannel shirt with a plaid print, every other part of me screamed homosexual – and aging.”
Fourteen Days Later
As the third wave is about to hit, Rugged makes it one week serving at the restaurant, before being sent into self-isolation after exposure to COVID-19. For two weeks, Rugged tries to keep himself from going crazy, as he is forced to spend time alone with his thoughts.
“The sky is blue, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and I am in self-isolation due to exposure to COVID-19.”
We Broke Up
Summer is on the horizon, and restrictions are beginning to lift. As a result, Rugged ends his fictional relationship with Pandemic Pete who lives across the back lane. Now that he is vaccinated, and it is legal to get near other people again, Rugged works on himself and his game.
“I have recently developed an addiction to buying used DVD’s. My apartment is covered with them, and I am concerned that my next television appearance will be on ‘Hoarders.’”
The Hand that Pours the Wine
It is August and the restaurant is busier than ever. With the dining room, patio, and curbside patio now open for business, Rugged can barely keep up. Then the unthinkable happens. One shift his right-hand stops working. Struggling to open a bottle of wine at a table, he is terrified whether he can still do his job.
“‘Great, the restaurant re-opens and I can no longer do my job,’ I said to myself, sipping rosé through a straw.”
First Dates
It is early fall, when Rugged agrees to go on a first date. Pre-pandemic, Rugged gave up his stock in first dates, and only traded in one-night stands. Now, after spending so much time alone, he only wants to invest in connection. Seated on the patio at Cardero’s, he sips rosé, and waits for a man named Theodore to arrive.
“The silhouette of the mountains contours a line across the blue sky. Soaring high above the treetops in Stanley Park, float planes land and take off.”
Fox on a Hot Tin Roof
Flashback a hot minute, and you will find Rugged in a counseling session prior to meeting Theodore. After twelve years on the Coast, the Fox tries to open up about why he can never make it to a second date. At first, he thought a lack of quality men were the problem, now he learns he has a part to play to.
“While most men hit the gym before going on a hot date, I decided it was best to get my head in shape.”
Woof: Gay Romance in the 21st Century
Sitting across from his date, Rugged cannot believe it. There is a spark! Handsome, charming, and affable, Theodore appears to be good to be true. As the two gentlemen confide in each other their life stories, the wine flows. “I really hope there is a second date,” remarks Theodore. Before he knows it, Rugged is in the middle of a crowded sidewalk kissing him goodbye.
“‘Cheers!’ I exclaimed, raising a $25 glass of rosé to Theodore. (FYI, there are no happy hour prices on the patio at Cardero’s, you pay for the view.)”
Second Date
It is a beautiful evening in September, when Rugged arrives at Theodore J. Nelson’s apartment with a bottle of wine. Taking the elevator up twelve stories, Rugged is floored when his date invites him inside. Books for days, French rosé, and a panoramic view of the mountains, ocean, and downtown Vancouver. This is the moment Rugged dreamed of as a closeted teenager.
“Opening the fridge, he pulls out a chilled bottle of French rosé and offers me a glass. Sweet Meryl, I brace myself against the door frame.”
#ADULTING
Getting ready for his third date with Theodore, Rugged breaks the bank. After inviting him over to the Fox Den for a Negroni, Rugged goes on a shopping spree. From the liquor store to Whole Foods, CB2 to the flower shop and Club Monaco, the zealous redhead discovers how expensive “adulting” can be. Then, just before the date, Rugged gets an unexpected text.
“To appear as a successful grown man, I would also need other beverage options that did not come in a box.”
A Gentlemen’s Stroll
It is a cool October afternoon in Chinatown, when Rugged joins his good friend Felix for a coffee and walk. As the two gentlemen stroll around Strathcona, Rugged relays the story of his first, second, and almost third date with Theodore. Anxious that he may have done something wrong, Felix helps to calm his nerves.
“It had been 79 hours and 46 minutes since Theodore last messaged to tell me he was sick and in the hospital.”
Third Date
Finally, after a short delay due to a bad oyster, the Fox makes it on a third date. Opening up his door, Rugged invites Theodore inside, and offers to take his mask and Ted Baker blazer. Mixing a Negroni, it is not long before the conversation heats up and moves into the bedroom. Everything is going smashing, until…
“I had dreamed of this moment, ever since the day I stumbled out of the closet and took the entire clothes rack with me.”
Just One Kiss
In a cab back to the West End, Rugged longs to see Theodore for one kiss before going to bed. Fueled by rose and hormones, he messages his suitor to see if he can come over. As the clock ticks and the taximeter rises, Rugged becomes desperate. “Why isn’t he writing me back?” he checks his phone again.
“Determined not to leave the cab under any circumstances before asking him to take me to my almost, hopefully will be, I do not see why not, should be, boyfriend’s place, I fired off another message.”
Date Nineteen
Fall is turning into winter and the rain is pouring. Curled up on the couch, Rugged warms into the nook of Theodore’s arm. It is movie night at Mr. J. Nelson’s apartment. It has been weeks since the two men started seeing each other, and hidden from Theodore’s view, Rugged cannot stop pinching himself. “This is too good to be true,” he thinks.
“Collapsing into his arms, I felt like the Boston Terrier CLARK with his belly up in the air.”
Seven Weeks Later
In this vignette, Rugged captures the seven weeks since he last saw Theodore. From cocktails on Davie Street to visiting his family and friends back in Winnipeg, Rugged did not foresee the end of this story coming so soon. That said, when one chapter ends, another must begin.
“That is the best part about having single gay friends in the city. They are always up for a drink after the rest of the world has gone to bed.”
