could this be the one?

I get an email, totally out of the blue.  It’s from Josh (not his real name).  He asks me if I’d like to meet someone.  The guy sounds great.  Josh says of him:

My sister’s ex is a real nice guy – everyone liked him and stayed in touch even 

after they got divorced 15+ years ago. His name is Theo (also a made-up name) 

and he lives in NY and FL. He’s an accomplished (but not famous) actor who still very much plies his craft. He’s a very good golfer. And a generally very 

entertaining fellow – well read, artsy. On the other hand he thinks with the 

other side of his brain more than I do.

Josh includes a photo of Theo and a link to his Facebook page. Age appropriate.  Salt and pepper hair.  Nice dimples.  Leading-man good looks.

Maybe this is the one.

I remember the psychic I saw last month telling me I was going to meet a man with salt and pepper hair.  She said we were going to have a great relationship.  I immediately email Josh and tell him I’d like to meet Theo.

Within 24 hours I get this email:

Hello Lynne, 

I have heard from my ex, Laurie Adler (another name I changed), that her 

brother Josh has told you about me and that you are interested in meeting 

me next time I'm in New York.

I'd be more than happy to make your acquaintance, but I am most interested 

in finding a place to stay during the next 3 weeks while I work on a role 

in a new play at HERE performing arts center in Soho.

I have had the pleasure of meeting many of Josh’s friends and liked them all,

 so I am perfectly comfortable asking you to consider putting me up if at all 

possible.   I am an exceedingly unmessy houseguest and handy as well.

I can't say you would be doing a great service to the theater, but I could 

probably get you mentioned in the program and tickets to the event. If it's 

possible you might be able to accommodate me please let me know what 

you think and how we might go about it.

I thought of calling you just now but felt you might be busy on a Saturday, 

though you may suspect I am very eager to talk with you.

If this request is entirely outside the realm of possibility, that's certainly understandable and you need not explain your reasons to me, and we can 

go about the arrangement of a meeting once I'm situated in Manhattan. 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Cordially,

Theo

It is good to know that Theo’s heard I want to meet him and that his meeting me is secondary to having a free place to stay for three weeks. 

I re-read the email, making sure I've read it correctly, and that’s when I notice —Theo is handy.  Now I know how to respond:

Dear Theowe,

It is good to know that you aren’t messy, but I am more interested in 

your skill at being handy.

Because you are a friend of Josh’s, and I like Josh, I feel perfectly 

comfortable asking you if you could tear out my 60-year-old-baseboards, 

deal with all the cable wires, prime the new baseboards that you can 

buy at Home Depot, and then install them. 

I can’t say this would be doing a service to the field of real estate, but 

I could mention you to future clients who may need some handiwork done, 

and I may even be able to get permission for you to attend one or two 

open houses with me.

If you suspect that I am eager to talk to you, you would be right.  I have 

become fixated on my ugly baseboards and am hoping you might be the 

solution to getting them re-done.

Let me know if this is possible, and then I’d be happy to accommodate 

your staying here. 

Sincerely,

lyn