Aren’t you tired of swiping in the hopes of running into a specific someone you have an existing, lingering curiosity about? Here’s your chance to be brave—to take the active route instead of the passive one. Let’s connect again.
Vibing at Tipitina’s
It was a weeknight show at Tip’s. You wore a collared shirt depicting mushrooms, a bun of kinky brown hair set perfectly out the back of a ball cap. I was adjacent, glittered and golden with my feline friend. You were lost in dance and using every inch afforded to you, to great effect. Whatever you usurped of my physical space you offered twofold as license to move in ways that I felt compelled. You were a vibe and we were a groove. I appreciated that.
Running with Love
It was an inauspicious, almost sleepy Sunday morning in the French Quarter. You were running with a giant flag that reminded everyone with its one word—Love—to unguard and unfreeze their hearts just a little bit this January. What a warm, lovely, and needed gesture. Thank you!
Gamera at Chewbacchus
I saw you walking with your krewe of giant monsters, in the midst of a crowd of Godzillas and King Kongs, and where others only saw a fierce turtle with an underbite clutching a broken skyscraper I knew who you were: Gamera! Protector of Children! Guardian of the Universe! So I screamed it out for all to hear as loudly as I could.
I didn’t know if you could make it out in the din and clamor and of course parades proceed as they must, but you took the time to hand out a SD figure of yourself, carved out of a champagne cork, painted green and adorned with googly eyes, twin butt flames, and the most perfect angry expression. I just wanted to let you know that it found me and will always live on my fridge as the best throw I’ve ever received.
Clowns Galore
We were both at the LSD Clownsystem show. You were dressed as a clown and I was dressed as a clown. I thought that was pretty neat.
Bad First Date at Bean Gallery
I listened to y’all fervently disagree for over an hour on every single topic introduced. It was like you both wanted to be disagreeing with each other. I couldn’t figure out why you both continued to sit there talking, and I tried not to listen, but I couldn’t help it. It was like watching a really long car crash. Unfortunate for y’all, but very entertaining for me.
Submit your own close encounter to closeencounters@antigravitymagazine.com or through our new ANONYMOUS Google form. All email addresses will remain confidential. Don’t be a creep.
illustrations by Maegen Guidroz
