Date

I had a date this Friday night past. You will think this crazy, but it was my first real date in over four years. One reason for this tremendous lapse in time is because I was in a relationship for close to five years. I have been out of said relationship for a year and a half so regardless it is time to date again.

Anyhow there is this guy that has sparked my interest for sometime. I shall call him "N", the first initial to his name. To tell the truth the first time I had seen "N" was in 2000. I was working the circulation desk at the Jen Library and he was a student. My friend and coworker Emma got his name for me. She was trying to push me to talk to him, but I would not. Mainly because I had recently entered a relationship with the above mentioned.

I would see him around from time to time and just think how cute he was. Time moved on and so did he.

Well, this is the guy I had a date with last Friday. I had a good time. We went to Saigon and had dinner. I had Phad Kee Mao with tofu and he had some poor lamb. The waitress pointed out how completely opposite our meals were. Yes, I am a vegetarian and he is not.

We basically talked about many things. Our conversation started off on skin lesions, food allergies, our mothers, movies, TV, etc. He asked me what movie or show I would like to see right now. Really the only thing that came to my mind was the Animaniacs. Yes, a cartoon. He laughed because he said he was watching the Animaniacs while waiting for me to pick him up. Isn't that crazy! Isn't that crazy weird? He doesn't have cable so he rents movies and shows from the public library and the Animaniacs was one of the rentals.

After dinner we walked over to the Pink House with the intention to have some wine in the lounge, but it was insanely packed with tourists in bad attire. So we high-tailed it out and headed to a new pub called WG's. It used to be a gay establishment called Faces. Well, it's not a gay establishment any longer. It felt awkward being in there, but we did have a glass of wine and talked for a while. Then a huge crowd of poorly dressed tourists descended upon us in a continuous row. We bee-lined it out and decided to go have coffee at Leopold’s.

After coffee we drove to his apartment, which is a cute little former slave cottage. Yes, slave cottage. This area of town has tiny little structures that were built for indentured servants and slaves. Most have been renovated into condos and apartments and some are in better areas then others.

We had some more wine and watched an independent film called "Clockwatchers". I highly recommend it. There are so many scenes I can relate to which reaffirmed my desire never to return to an office environment ever again!

After the film I went home. I gave him a hug good-bye and said I enjoyed the evening very much. He said he too had a good time and that he would call me Saturday. Well, he did not call. I figure he must have had other plans, or assignments to work on. He is an architecture graduate student so I am sure he has something to work on.

However I got to thinking isn't it polite to call someone when you say you will. I mean, is it not polite to call and say thank you for the evening? Especially when the other person paid for everything?

Perhaps I am thinking on it too much. I don't know. I did not kiss him good night because I thought one should do that on the second date or the third. In the past I have always jumped right into it and this time I feel like I wish to get to know the person first. Perhaps I did wrong. Perhaps I am thinking "old-fashioned". Perhaps I sent off the wrong signals by not offering a kiss. Perhaps it's my age. I am almost 11 years older. He turned 29 in March and well, I turn 40 this Wednesday!

Oh, hell I don't know and you know what? It's okay. I had a swell time. It was what it was. It was nice to go out once again and especially with a really intelligent, cute guy.

Thank you "N".