I realized I never finished the story about S. (email #4). He did accept my friend request and emailed me back.

Dec 3 at 6:09 pm
I am finally getting back to you. Annie was talking about you and your musical skills at a recent wedding reception and I was impressed with your dual ability with stringed instruments. When is the next show? Let me know. Can I be a groupie? Thanks for the friend invite and write back to tell me about yourself. Odelay.

So I wrote back:

Dec 6 at 1:17 pm
You’re in luck! We are currently accepting applications for groupies. Necessary qualifications include affection for (or at least tolerance of) bluegrass music and occasional attendance to our shows. The next one is the Monday before Christmas, [Date and Location]. We might even do a Christmas song.

So Annie mentioned that you want to learn mandolin? What kind of music do you want to play?

P.S. My friend has the same name as you but spelled completely differently.

His response:

Dec 8 at 7:58 am
Damn, I thought I was one of a kind. Makes me wonder if I’m even the best [spelling of his name/spelling of my friend's name]. Also, I cannot jump with both feet in to being a groupie of a band that does not require a physical appearance to every show. Partial attendance is suited more for groupies of a Barry Manilow cover band. If I am going to commit to being a groupie it would have to be at the fanatic, get there 3 hours before the show with a banner type stuff.

The mandolin is a sorta/kinda interest only because I have one. I know nothing about them or the music. Eddie Vedder has a couple songs I dig on the instrument and a handful of irish tunes are among my favorite.

The X-mas show sounds like fun. Adios for now. We are starting a meeting in 2 minutes.

I was impressed that he took the time to email me while at work. Seriously. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t slack off, right?

Dec 9 at 10:10
You are one of a kind! You’re like two snowflakes, each one unique in spelling and I’m sure personality.

Bear in mind that those were only the minimum qualifications. We go through an extensive vetting process, background check, reference check (calling other bands you may have been an official/unofficial groupie of, etc.). See, there’s a fine line between groupie and stalker, and we — and our friends on the police force — prefer to stay on the right side of that line.

I’ve never heard mandolin on an Eddie Vedder song. Interesting.

Stop by the show, if you’re free. It’s always a good time. And you can meet your doppelganger.

I didn’t really expect him to come to the show. The holidays are so busy, and he doesn’t live in the city, so it would be a bit of a drive for him. Plus, it was a week and a half after our last email exchange. Which was also the last time we chatted.

As my (former*) therapist would say, Next! It is encouraging, though, that there are nice, funny, interesting single guys out there, even if they aren’t the right matches for me. Someday I’ll find the right one.

* I graduated.