The Story of Katherine Marsh

Who is Katherine Marsh? A woman I met a grand total of once, and in fact I’m not even positive I’m spelling her name right. This story came back to me the other day as I was thinking about old songs I had written. One of them was called “Hey Katherine!” inspired by this event.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Well actually it was several years ago in a club, my band was hired to play a party for the Landscape Architecture Department at Texas A&M University. We showed up early for set-up, and I met our contact person, one Katherine Marsh. She was one of the graduating students organizing this shindig. We talked about the details, and she was very friendly, and personable.
Throughout the evening we chatted some more, and seemed to have a good rapport. We joked with each other, laughed, flirted, and generally had a good time throughout the evening. I definitely thought there was some chemistry. Of the good kind, that is. No the kind that makes beakers explode and pelts students with shards of glass.
At the end of the night she gave me a big hug, we said our goodbyes, and she exited the building. I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe I should have asked for her number or something. After a few minutes she came back into the club. She approached me and asked “So are you gonna call me sometime?”
I replied, “Not unless you give me your number”, which she then did.
I was flying high as a… thing that flies really high but is less clich� than a kite. I’m generally a pretty shy guy when it comes to things like this, and the fact that a cool, fun, pretty woman had approached me and given me her number made my night. Actually it probably made my period of time longer than a night, but it couldn’t be precisely measured without many scientific instruments. The rest of the night I had a huge smile on my face.
The next day I finally work up the nerve and call her. None of these stupid games like “never call a girl until 2.24 days after you get her number”. Voice mail. I leave a slightly nervous, possibly awkward, but hopefully endearing message. I can’t remember how long I waited but it was at least a day, possibly a couple. No response. I debate whether or not to drop it or call her again, and decide that I’ll give it one more shot just in case some circumstances prevented her from getting my message (such as voice mail glitch, alien abduction, or a problem in The Matrix). Working up even more nerve, I call a second time. This time I’m thankful I get the voicemail as it would be more awkward if she answered. One more awkward but hopefully endearing message later, I hang up and wait. Days, weeks, months pass. Actually just days, but in this situation, time flows in a different and painful manner. No reply. As a last ditch effort, I use my wily, efficient, and geeky skills to find her email address on the Internet. Well what if her voicemail is defective and eating messages? I must try a backup medium! So in a last desperate attempt (and at high risk of seeming stalkery, but hopefully in a persistent, endearing way), I email her.
I never heard from Katherine Marsh again. I have some theories on this.
1. She was piss drunk that night and woke up the next day realizing “I gave my number to that guy? Awww crap! Thank god for caller ID!”
2. I think at some point, after discussing my dilemma with band, our bass player went and talked to her and said something to her (I’m not sure what) indicating my interest. Now even if this were true, she would have no reason to come back after she had left to give me her number under duress. So while it’s possible, I don’t find it very plausible.
3. (My preferred theory) She was intimidated by her overwhelming and immediate attraction to me like a moth to the flame, especially considering her pending graduation, and decided that it must remain a love that could not be, for while her heart and soul might ache for eternity, the fulfillment of her desires might be too much for any mere mortal to handle.
4. Alien Abduction, she became a Pod Person, or she was a secret agent and/or Jedi and must live without love.