Ever checked out the Missed Connections section on Tucson Craigslist? If not, log on to Tucson.craigslist.org. It's pretty entertaining. Some posts are funny (a favorite post is titled "Were you shaking the peanut butter at Trader Joe's?"); many are dirty (I won't go into details). A few seem sincere, and most of them are probably shots-in-the-dark.
It takes two to tango, after all, and unless the object of your admiration is also familiar with Craigslist, chances are slim that your romantic daydreams will become a reality.
However, with Craigslist's growing popularity, it's becoming more likely that a friend could read the post, recognize the person or situation mentioned and pass on the information.
This is what happened with "Little Poca Cosa Guy," a waiter at the Downtown Tucson restaurant and the subject of five Missed Connection posts a few months back.
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This guy had all the ladies swooning. One woman wrote, "The first time I went there I could not take my eyes off him. The food is worthwhile also." Another poster agreed and wrote, "I go there just for him!"
It was a month before word got to Little Poca Cosa Guy about his legion of female fans, and he responded that he was simultaneously "freaked out" and "single" ("so don't be shy"). Admonishing and encouraging at the same time — talk about mixed signals. But his fans must have been thrilled to discover that their adoring gazes and high tips might not have been a vain effort after all.
The true Craigslist connoisseur knows there are three distinct categories of Missed Connections: the blunt and usually racy "Let's hook up!" posts; the standard "You're cute — let's get coffee!" posts; and the dramatic "I'm secretly in love with you and I'm going to be emo about it" posts.
The ones that fall into that last category are usually the most entertaining, which may be surprising considering the competition. Where are the juicy details of the "hookup" posts? What about the sweet idealism of the "let's get coffee" posts?
But that last category is where all the drama unfolds, and for the easily entertained, this could be your soap-opera fix for the day. Forget "The Young and the Restless"; these are real people living in Tucson. These star-crossed lovers could be your friends or neighbors.
And then there's always the undeniable thrill of the off chance that you might be a Missed Connection:
"Wait a second. . . . I went to Trader Joe's on Wednesday. I'm tall with brown hair. Did I buy peanut butter? Why, yes I did. Did I shake it at some point? It's possible that I did, yes! He must be talking about me!"
What a great story that would be to tell the grandkids.