Attention Bachelors: Act Now Because Time Is Running Out

Its been ten years since the day that my Uncle Gus passed away. He was a good man, all in all. My dear Uncle Gus had his faults; he was no angel. But, he had a heart made out of pure gold. I fondly remember he started to tell me one of the most important stories in my life. It was a story about his best friend, Mike.

Mike and my Uncle Gus were teenage friends. They didn't meet at school but had a casual acquaintance. The boys got together on Friday nights at the local Diner. Tony's Diner was a diner during the day and transformed itself into a Pizza hang-out in the evening. The boys would sit around planning to spend their nights on the weekend. As time went on, the two slowly became the best of friends. Each of them fancied themselves as a lady's man. And they enjoyed going out looking for girls. Of course, they were awkward and silly and often made fools of themselves during the process. The girls were stunned by their ridiculous behavior and often laughed at them. My Uncle and Mike thought otherwise; they fancied themselves as witty and charming. The two reveled at hearing the beautiful young girls laugh and giggle. The two were never tired by their antics. They kept meeting at the Diner for several years.

My Uncle was tall and had full thick dark wavy hair. He had a prominent chin and a chiseled face with high cheekbones and dark chocolate eyes. He fancied himself as the next Dean Martin. He tried to walk like Dean Martin, and heaven forbid, attempted to serenade the girls with his songs on many occasions. After countless attempts at his impersonation, one girl fell for it —  hook, line, and sinker. She frequently pitied the young man because all the girls laughed at his awful impersonation. My aunt and Uncle dated for a while and steadily got more serious. Uncle Gus would cut short his time with the boys. He would leave at first at ten, then the following week at nine, and then all of a sudden wouldn't show up at the Diner on Fridays.

Shortly after that, Mike also met a beautiful girl. Alice was her name. She was tall and thin with blue eyes and light-brown hair that seemed to always bounce on top of her shoulders as she laughed. Mike was awkward around Alice. He seemed to lose his spontaneity and foolishness when alone with her. Mike had a round face and constantly buzzed his hair short like a soldier. He was a couple of inches taller than Uncle Gus, and his physique betrayed that he moved appliances for a living.

Uncle Gus spent more and more time with my aunt. Mike spent more and more time with Alice. Finally, after six months, Uncle Gus felt comfortable taking the next step and kneeled before her and asked her to marry him. She started to laugh, thinking this was another one of his quirky routines. He dug deep into his pocket and presented her with a black velvet jewelry box. He popped open the cover, and a ring with a dazzling sparkle of a diamond laid trembling in his hands. It took a moment for my aunt to realize that this was real. He was asking her to marry him. It was too soon, she thought. She was a little confused, but the moment felt right. He looked so vulnerable. She choked up and started to cry after saying, "Yes."

Alice and Mike, of course, were asked to stand up at the wedding. Alice was the maid of honor, and Mike was the best man. The boys from the Diner completed the list of groomsmen. The wedding was a grand affair, and the party lasted until four in the morning. Everyone talked and was wagering that Alice and Mike's would be the next wedding. Alice had given some thought to the idea and was pleased with it. But, on the other hand, Mike still fashioned himself as a lady's man, and it was too soon to settle down.

A year went by, then two, then four. And Alice was laying hints to Mike. But Mike had an excuse for Alice to save up his money. to the boys, he was bragging that he was still young and there were so many fish in the sea. Alice was getting frustrated. She became the godmother to my cousin. She had asked Mike about family and children. And he quickly changed the subject. He began to go out with one of the boys on a Friday night., leaving Alice alone at her apartment. All of the other boys were getting married, one by one.

Alice had enough That Sunday afternoon. She talked straight to Mike.

"Mike, we have been dating for seven years now. Is there anything between us? Do you see something between us? Do we have a future TOGETHER?"

Alice had drawn the line. She was far too patient with Mike. Her parents have been saying for years that Mike should have proposed. Alice had been making excuses, but now she wanted to know are they were getting married.

Mike just sat there on the couch, looking down on the ground at his black sneakers. He didn't have the guts to look into Alice's blue eyes. Alice was astounded. He sat motionless there like a child with no spine. No nerve to look at her. She fought hard not to get angry, but then she broke down and started to tear up. Her eyes flooded with tears; she could not see clearly. She tore after the door and ran out, slamming the door behind her. She ran down the hall crying and sobbing. She desperately loved Michael, but Mike didn't want to marry her for whatever reason. Alice felt like a fool. Her mother's warnings echoed in her head. "Mike should have asked you to marry by now. Has he talked to you about shopping for a wedding ring at least".

Flash forward to me at my aunt and Uncle's house. I'm about sixteen years old. I like visiting my aunt and Uncle frequently; my cousin is more than my real brother. My cousin Angelo and I get along very well. We are sitting on the couch playing video games on the TV. My Uncle Gus is on the phone with his friend Michael. I overhear him talking.

"Alice, oh she is fine…….She has three girls……… I think the oldest is thirteen………….. Last month, we were at their house for her youngest girl's birthday party…….. No, she didn't ask about you…..she hosted fifty people at her house………..there were many people…..Her husband, Jack…….He is good to her……..Mike, nice talking to you ……Yes….yes…..Bye, talk to you soon.

Uncle Gus looked disappointed and angry. Then, he turned to us and said to us. "Guy's don't be like my friend Mike. He is 55 years old and lonely and lives in his parents' basement. But, he calls me up and always asks, "How is Alice?"

"That stupid idiot was dating Alice for seven years, and he let her go. She is not stupid, and she is a wonderful girl. Unfortunately, the good girls are taken first. Sometimes if you wait too long, you will not find anyone better than Alice. Now he is lonely. Alice has a great husband, beautiful kids, a wonderful family, surrounded by good friends." I could tell he was upset with Mike. My Uncle knew that Mike screwed up his life by not asking Alice to marry him. Alice was the best thing that ever happened to Mike, and he ruined it.

I know that speech was meant primarily for my cousin Angelo, but my Uncle Gus wanted me to hear it too. My Uncle Gus taught me a valuable lesson that night. This is a lesson that I will never forget. I miss you, Uncle Gus.

Just out of curiosity, do you know anyone like Mike? A guy who met an incredible woman and was too scared to marry her? Please send me a notification and tell me your story.