Spring Fever..."Oh my Corazon!!"

“Spring Fever is a term applied to several sets of physical and psychological symptoms associated with the arrival of spring. In general it refers to an increase in energy, vitality and particularly sexual appetite” – Wikipedia. Well my friends it is in full affect for me. Some friends of mine started playing cupid last weekend giving my number to a guy. Hell, I think I fell in love at least three times this weekend. I even picked up a date at the self service car wash Saturday. Apparently all that bending over, squatting, elbow grease and sweating will catch a man’s attention.

Being of German/Irish/Mexican (Spanish) decent I am of a rather intensely passionate and amours nature. I think of the works of Frida Kahlo, Octavio Paz, Fredrico Lorca, Wagner, Goethe, Hesse, Beethoven, Bram Stoker, Wilde, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett. Needless to say I fall in love all the time with people in general, literature, movies, ideas, music, television shows, clothes, parks, shoes, foreign dishes, flowers, kids, you name it. When this mood hits this time of year it usually last until September.

I start looking at men as if they are a work of art even if I’m not wowed by them I usually find something interesting that hooks my curiosity. I like to challenge them, make them laugh, do something competitive with them, flirt shamelessly, enjoy live music and engage in deep conversation. I like to watch them come alive, be more adventurous, feel attractive and interesting through my eyes.

What type of men do I like? All of them, from the sensitive creative introverted type, the techno nerd, the bored office worker, the good boy, the intellectual, handyman/mechanic type, the laid back nature guy to the impulsive swaggering macho man and everything in between. Last year’s spring/summer romance phase was particularly eventful. Post a shocking breakup I decided to date for fun, binge on the buffet of men that paraded in front of me and if i really like them allow myself to be intimate without wanting anything further.  The most important part was to meet and enjoy spending time with different types of men. See what was out there and not take it so serious.

It started early last year with a hunky black fireman. We went to see English Beat and Fishbone. We partied like rockstars and went our separate ways. Then I hooked up with a young 22 year old Mexican Cholo turned Skinhead, a novelty. He was adorable, I had hung out with him several times before and he once had to give me a ride home. We had the same taste in rap music of all things and he was convinced that I was “bad ass”. We're still friends and hang out when we see each other out and about. He was my only one night stand. Next was professor at a near by university he was 15 years my senior. We had fascinating conversation and enjoyed some live music together. Then there was an actor who was temporarily back in Houston from LA and on his way out again. He was Russian and full of tattoos he played security for a mobster in some movie. He was the same age and all about being at the cutting edge of what was hip in the world.

After that was my favorite a quiet mature guy about five years older than me. He was a Med-school drop out turned truck driver, a little country a little rock n roll, moral, laid back, a video gamer, a single dad, a gun collector, very intelligent, hilarious and a wrote articles for magazines. He had a bad back so indulged him with massage. He was the first person I ever met to have a calming effect on me. I felt so relaxed and free to be myself around him as if we’d known each other forever. No intense “connection” or such non-sense just the feeling of two adults enjoying each other’s company. I simply dated the others but with him I relaxed, was intimate and we sheltered each other a little.

There was also another actor/writer that had just arrived from Chicago I met at an art opening. He had some high IQ or something and I think he was a little too sensitive for my laissez-faire romantic attitude. I also had a date with someone I met at a bookstore. He was 43 from NY in a nice suit and immaculate from head to toe, an executive. I was shocked by his interest in me until the evening before our set meeting when he basically told me how I was to dress for our date. Ah the narcissistic “Dom”………um no thanks. Oh and a very handsome young 23 year old Moroccan man that I met at a juice bar who knew Spanish and could play an oud. Lastly there was a clandestine fling with a bartender that helped me let say confront my baser instincts head on for the duration of the summer. To round it off there was sudden lightening bolt of interest in an old acquaintance that came out of nowhere frightening me enough to frantically try to free myself from Aphrodite’s puppet strings before I found myself in a too hot to handle situation.

The bombardment of the arrows from Eros gave cause for pause last night while I was enjoying the evening breeze and an Abita beer listening to my friend’s relationship woes. I think this spring and summer I want a break. I will do my best keep my heart focused on myself, my goals and out of the hands of Venus. I paid much overdue homage to her last year so I’m hoping she’ll have some pity on me this year.

I’m as adventurous and durable as the next woman but there comes a time when focused pursuit of goals must be a primary outlet for burning passions. If love is a battle field then "Spanish Bombs" by The Clash is my "Spring Freedom" song with its up beat sound, romanticism, and idealism it combines perfectly with my determination to be free from the dictatorship of Venus over my heart. I'm also including some theme appropriate songs I think you'll enjoy. Happy dating and mating this year everyone!