Each guitar player develops preferences for a variety of things. String thickness, scale length, tone, picking hand position, and chord fingerings are just a few. Musically, most players rely on a pentatonic scale for leads, while others use a diatonic approach, or even utilize all twelve notes. At different times over the years, I played with all kinds of equipment, sounds, and styles.

It was the same with all the women I dated. I didn't have a true physical preference. Thus, mere coincidence prompted the speculation of My Type...

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I think we look pretty good together.
And this time I think it's forever.
I hope your parents understand. You're My My Kind Of A Girl.
The Ramones.

After the split second of musing and comparing my two loves, I looked up in surprise. Olivia said, "Yes, I know we looked alike."

All the focus had shifted to her. Not just with their eyes, everyone had shifted their seating too. Olivia was speaking, and as usual, the room hung on her slightly slurred words. "Ray, do you remember Rhoda, the cashier?"

Ohhhh, no.

I could see exactly how the next unstoppable minute of this would play out. The only mystery was if Olivia felt pain or triumph. While usually funny, she sometimes became unpredictable when drinking.

Rhoda had worked at the grocery store where I landed after leaving the restaurant. Before we broke up for the last time in 1986, Erica had visited me at work three times, and had charmed many of my female coworkers, while making all the men drool. Erica had been especially nice to Rhoda, who had urged me to stay with my "delightful and perfect girlfriend."

In 2010, Olivia had transferred to Rhoda's store.

Olivia stepped behind my chair, then put her hands on my shoulders. While it comforted me, it also meant everyone would see my reactions to her words. "When I met Rhoda, I asked, 'Do you remember my husband, Ray?"

I only had a few exchanges with Rhoda, but she had always been friendly with me. A very extroverted, tall redheaded woman in her thirties when I worked with her, Rhoda had a knack for getting people to open up to her, and I was not immune. Thus, she knew all about my relationship with Erica.

And other women...

My wife continued, "Rhoda told me, 'Olivia, you look just like one of his girlfriends!"

Gwen asked me what everyone was thinking. "Did Grandma take Erica's place?"

I huffed with indignation, "No, of course not. I was with Erica four years before Olivia. It's just a coincidence, and I dated... a few women in between."

  Thirty...

Olivia looked sad. "I thought the same thing. Like, was I just another version of her? But then Rhoda told me, 'You know, Olivia, you're Ray's type."

Ohhh. Here it comes...

Perking up, Olivia's grin brightened the living room. "She told me about your coworker Lily."

Fucking Lily. She wrecked me...

"Rhoda also mentioned two other girlfriends who came to visit you."

That would be Wendy, and Eve. Two more women I disappointed...

"All of them were busty, blue eyed blondes. This is what you like." Olivia twirled her hair, then cupped her large breasts with a big smile.

I love her...

My sister Natalie entered the room,
"I met Erica, but I'm glad you didn't marry her. You did so much better with Olivia. Erica was, I don't know... like one of those beautiful and popular girls in high school, who gets everything they want."

Was that a subtle dig at Olivia?

Gwen imitated Olivia's breasty performance with her own handfuls.
"Mom, am I going to have big boobs like Grandpa's girlfriends?"

"Alright, Bug, that's enough! Sit down and behave!"

I felt sympathy for Kris. Even the best teenaged girls are a challenge, and Gwen seemed destined for trouble.

  Just like Erica...

Once again, I tried to get up, but Melanie reminded, "Wait, Ray. You were going to tell us how you proposed to Erica."

I looked at Olivia, who sighed, "Go ahead, I'm going back outside. I don't want to hear it. It always kills me that I wasn't your first love."

Melanie scolded, "First love? Olivia, you were married, with two daughters, when you met him!"

Olivia turned in the doorway. "That's different. I'm a girl."

My mother and sister actually applauded, as Olivia closed the door with a smirk.

Gwen twirled into the room with an open bottle of beer in her hand. I noticed it wasn't quite full, but I just accepted it without comment, "Thank you, Gwen. Okay, so back in 1985..."

Thanks for reading, don't forget to vote and comment!