She’s The One, Mom. I’m 100% sure. Normally, I would never try to break up a relationship—you raised me better than that. But, she’s THE ONE. And, she’s about to marry the WRONG GUY.
And, I finally see an opening. Do I take it?
Love,
Your Very Own Marty
Sent:
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 8:10 AM
From:
Mom
To:
Marty
Subject:
Re: The One
Such a silly boy asking such a silly question. If she’s The One, go for it.
Love,
Mom
P.S. Good luck!
Izabell_Chin I am not on vacation.
1:58 PM Sept 30th via twitterfeed
Sent:
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 11:01 PM
From:
Marty
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: ???
I’ve had too much to drink, but, after our four-hour conversation at Tap last night, I believe that you deserve to see this. It’s no longer saved as draft. Maybe it’ll bring a smile to your beautiful face. You certainly deserve to smile all the time.
The List:
-Great eye contact
-Smiles constantly. A few belly laughs never hurt, either …
-A love of movie quotes (and good films in general … new and old, big budget and indie)
-And music lyrics (not just Madonna … but music as a way to change moods, supplement life force)
-A general appreciation of the arts (this includes the fine arts)
-She cares that I (try) to play my (Martin) guitar
-I guess this can all be summed up into good taste …
-She wants to try new restaurants (fine dining ones especially)
-And new food
-And sushi
-A love for travel, new things, excitement, variety, change …
-Isn’t afraid to take risks
-A sensual, confident, suggestive, flirty nature
-Good posture (goes hand in hand with confidence, I suppose …)
-No, seriously … confidence is important!
-A love of designer shoes, fashion, and taking care of herself
-Loves to tell stories (and tells good stories, to boot)
-Tasteful
-Smart
-Energetic
-Ambitious
-Petite
-Good kisser
-Good hugger
-No fear of PDA
-Spark!!!
-IZABELL
OCTOBER 2008: THE SHORT LIST
Sent:
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 11:07 PM
From:
Anna
To:
Izabell
Subject:
MIA
Hey Girl,
Call me when you get a chance. It’s really strange. I never heard back from Marty after the Braves game. It’s been two weeks now. He didn’t return any of my phone calls. It’s weird, because we had such a good date that last time (or so I thought). I know you’re friends, and I hate to ask, but … has he said anything to you? I really liked him.
—Anna
Sent:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 8:09 am
From:
Izabell
To:
Elizabeth
Subject:
Ugh
Anna e-mailed me about Marty. He never called her back.
Sent:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 8:11 AM
From:
Elizabeth
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: Ugh
Was it because she didn’t get his velvet chaps reference?
Sent:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 8:12 AM
From:
Izabell
To:
Elizabeth
Subject:
Re: Ugh
Very funny.
Sent:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 12:13 PM
From:
Marty
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Here Goes Nothing …
Now you know: You ARE the List.
(Pause for dramatic effect.)
Does that hinder men and women from being friends? That is the million-dollar question from Monday night. Worth 500 points (this way, you win me all in one fell swoop).
You were right to call me out. I do think that men and women can be friends. I really do have several girlfriends that I have zero interest in dating. Of course, my other girlfriends don’t e-mail me ten times a day or ask me to “rescue them.” My other girlfriends don’t get movie quotes from such films as Casablanca or Lost in Translation. My other girlfriends don’t share my interest in writing novels, sailing on pirate ships, and serenading random people in the park. Perhaps I was asking “can Iz and Marty be (merely) friends?”
You once said to me:
I want what my parents have. After thirty-eight years, they still have date nights on Fridays and go to jazz clubs, wine bars, movies, etc. And, they can really talk to each other—you know?—they talk to each other, and they say what they mean. They’re just the best. I want THAT, or nothing at all.
What does it say about someone when it takes him TWO years to tell you how he feels about you? You deserve to be told how incredible you are EVERY day, from Day 1. Because you ARE incredible … You ARE the List.
So, how does my Rom-Com end? Does the incredible girl on the street end up making the crazy choice to follow her heart over her head? Perhaps this letter is my version of John Cusack flying to California to find his Kate Beck-insale in Serendipity … Perhaps I am absolutely crazy and this is the end of “Iz and Marty” as we know it … Perhaps it only happens in the movies, and a hopeless romantic really is hopeless … Or, perhaps I know you better than you think.
Shut up and deal.
—Martin
Sent:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 1:14 PM
From:
Rose
To:
Peter
Subject:
Weekend
Need you at the office all weekend helping me with deposition prep.
—Rose
Sent:
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 4:49 PM
From:
Peter
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Weekend
I’ll be working all weekend again. Wanted to give you a heads-up so you can make plans with Elizabeth, etc. I’m really sorry. Won’t be home until late tonight. Don’t wait up.
Sent:
Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 4:16 PM
From:
Anna
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Marty
So, I promise I’m not obsessing about Marty or anything, but I really am curious if you heard anything from him … Do I ever come up in conversation? (I’m assuming you two are still friends.)
I just don’t understand guys these days.
—Anna
Draft:
Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 8:18 PM
From:
Izabell
To:
Anna
Subject:
Re: Marty
This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.
Hey Girl,
I think maybe you and I should have a drink and talk about Marty. I haven’t been completely upfront with you about him.
Let me know when you have a free night this week, and we’ll dish.
Luv,
Izzy
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 9:19 AM
From:
Izabell
To:
Anna
Subject:
&
nbsp; Re: Marty
Hey Girlie,
You haven’t come up in convo. I haven’t specifically asked him about you though … but, I can ask him if you like?
—Izzy
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 9:23 AM
From:
Anna
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: Marty
Dear God, do NOT ask him. That’ll make me look even worse. Just curious if he mentioned anything about me casually. No worries!
Draft:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:19 PM
From:
Izabell
To:
Marty
Subject:
Wow
This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.
Thank you for the gutsy e-mail. It put yet another smile on my face. And, I admittedly haven’t been smiling a lot lately.
OK. Here’s the deal (and I’m going to tell you exactly where I’m coming from and exactly what is going on in my head, and I’m not going to just write it but not send it like I’ve done before, like we all do all the damn time.)
I’ve stayed up nights trying to figure out what’s going on. And here’s where I’m at so far … You’ve obviously sensed that my relationship is not going swimmingly. For the past four months, Peter and I have been going through a very rough patch which has led me to wonder whether I’m marrying the right man. I just don’t know if he’s The One anymore. He was so much The One when we got engaged. And, he has all but disappeared of late which I can’t come to terms with … And, no, I’m not happy all of the time, Marty. There are moments when I’m deliriously happy, and then there are moments when I am deliriously not. But, I’m trying to see if Peter and I can make this work. I’m trying to figure out if he can love me in the way that I know I need to be loved for the rest of my life to be happy. Yes, I want what my parents have—I’m trying to figure out if I can have it with him. I don’t know. I just don’t know. I need a few weeks, a month, I don’t know, but I need time. I’m in love with him—that I know. But, I just don’t know if I can be happy with him. And, I’m finally grown-up enough to know there is a difference.
And that’s where I am.
I’m fond of you. Obviously. I think you’re incredible. Do I wonder if you’re The One? Abso-fuckin’-lutely. Is it occupying my thoughts more than it should? Yes. Am I going to act on it? No, not now. I’ve got to figure out if Peter and I can make this relationship work. And, I’m going to put my damn all into it.
But, if we can’t make it work, then you can most surely bet your life on the fact that I will stalk you day and night until you consider dating me again. But (and this is a big “BUT”), I just can’t be asking you to “rescue” me or talk pirate ships or Casablanca quotes unless and until I’m in a position to do so. I’ve been emotionally cheating on Peter, and it’s not fair to anyone. I think it took your e-mail for me to realize that.
Ugh. What an e-mail. What a mess. I’ll stay in touch. Promise. Just not as much.
Always,
Iz
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:21 PM
From:
Izabell
To:
Marty
Subject:
Wow
Fuck it … Here’s the e-mail I nearly didn’t send, but then said, well, fuck it … Cut and pasted below:
Thank you for the gutsy e-mail. It put yet another smile on my face. And, I admittedly haven’t been smiling a lot lately.
OK. Here’s the deal (and I’m going to tell you exactly where I’m coming from and exactly what is going on in my head, and I’m not going to just write it but not send it like I’ve done before, like we all do all the damn time.)
*****Message truncated due to size****
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:33 PM
From:
Annette
To:
Izabell, Elizabeth, Brooke
Subject:
And, because I have nothing better to do on a Friday night …
Cut and pasted below. Bleah.
Me and my former havent completed are divorce yet, but I am courious about your heading on your profile. Would you tell me more of what you mean. Tony
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:59 PM
From:
Elizabeth
To:
Annette, Izabell, Brooke
Subject:
Re: And, because I have nothing better to do on a Friday night …
Dear God. That’s going to be either my dad or my mom next year. A recent divorcé(e) scouring Match.com for someone to talk to.
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 11:01 PM
From:
Annette
To:
Elizabeth, Izabell, Brooke
Subject:
Re: And, because I have nothing better to do on a Friday night …
Excuse me … I am a divorcée scouring Match.com for someone to talk to …
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 11:03 PM
From:
Brooke
To:
Elizabeth, Annette, Izabell
Subject:
Re: And, because I have nothing better to do on a Friday night …
But without the typos.
Sent:
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 11:33 PM
From:
Izabell
To:
Peter
Subject:
Romantic Weekend?
I know you have to work this weekend, but I thought we’d do some fun things despite that fact—some of the things we used to do. Bring a bottle of Malbec with us into a bubble bath on Friday night? ;-) I’d like to cook for you on Sunday. How does meat loaf sound? Think you could be home by 8 PM that night? Also, why don’t we take a walk in Piedmont Park with Thea tomorrow afternoon at some point? What do you think? Maybe you could tell Rose that you have certain time frames during which you are unavailable? Please? For me?
Sent:
Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 1:02 AM
From:
Peter
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: Romantic Weekend?
I’ll do my best to be home for these things. I’ll do everything I can to make sure of it. Promise.
Sent:
Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 1:05 AM
From:
Izabell
To:
Peter
Subject:
Re: Romantic Weekend?
Great!!! I’ll plan everything.
Love you.
Are you coming home soon?
Sent:
Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 2:03 AM
From:
Peter
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: Romantic Weekend?
Love you too.
Draft:
Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 11:45 PM
From:
Peter
To:
PJ
Subject:
This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.
Hey,
Are you and Elizabeth free for dinner sometime this week? I was thinking maybe we could all do something fun like we used to. I’m sure Izzy’s told you how much I’ve been working lately. It’s been rough. Anyway, let me know if you two are free, and we can plan accordingly.
—Peter
Sent:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 4:13 PM
From:
Peter
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Try Again?
I feel really bad about how the weekend turned out (or didn’t). Let’s do something fun tonight. Can we stay at home though? Am really exhaus
ted.
Sent:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:16 PM
From:
Izabell
To:
Peter
Subject:
Re: Try Again?
You’re always exhausted. Staying at home is fine. Can we actually have sex for a first?
Sent:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:18 PM
From:
Peter
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: Try Again?
Wow. Nice, Iz, real nice.
Sent:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:23 PM
From:
Izabell
To:
Peter
Subject:
Re: Try Again?
Sorry, it’s just getting old. I miss my fiancé. I feel like I’m about to marry myself—and only myself.
Sent:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:56 PM
From:
Peter
To:
Izabell
Subject:
Re: Try Again?
We’ve talked about this over and over again. There’s nothing I can do about this now. I don’t have a choice. After the hearing is over in December, if it’s still bad, then I’ll talk to Rose. It’s frustrating for me, too. I don’t think you realize that. I’m the one who has to work all the time.
Save as Draft Page 20