All that glitters...

All dressed up from a long day of work and still a date to go, I ventured out to that familiar spot downtown which had become a new favorite. I was to meet a new guy for a quick drink and get to know you good time. The girls at the dating service clued me in on my date of the evening: tall, handsome, articulate, no children, never married, 6 foot 2 inches and about 185 pounds, not too skinny but not real athletic either and certainly no body fat. He was successful in his career but wanted to meet someone to enjoy some of life at the beach with and go from there, even liked yoga. Sounds great, so far so good!

I arrived as usual a bit early to freshen up and take my seat at the bar. A really nice man traveling on business was seated watching the game. I sat at the end of the bar and ordered a drink awaiting the arrival of Mr. Maybe or Perhaps. As minutes passed, the traveler began to strike up a conversation that was interesting. He had never been to the beach but traveled to the city often for quick business trips. What a shame! Having seen many beaches, I am partial to Virginia Beach, thanks to the beautiful boardwalk and many opportunities to enjoy good times courtesy of the free life blessings about. After learning his wife and three children might travel with him on his next visit, I shared my love of the beach and what a family place it could be for a vacation. While deeply entrenched in conversation with the business traveler, my date of the night walked in, a bit late but better late than never!

I knew it was him right away. He was tall and handsome just like the girls mentioned. He was wearing a nice pair of linen pants with an orange polo shirt and seemed quite casual but comfortable. That’s a plus sign already: relaxed and unpretentious by appearance. He came and stood on the side of the business traveler, glanced my way and calmly said: “Hey! Good to see you again! Mind if I join you?” Well, I was liking the style already. Of course I had never seen him before, but he didn’t want anyone else there to know that. (In fact later that night the bartender asked if we worked together…oops, fast forwarding.) Jim joined me at the end of the bar, sat next to the business man. We began our get to know you conversation after ordering a glass of wine, but the conversation was more on the lines of events of the day, work projects and events in the news, the sports playing out on the big screen.

The first hour was quite relaxing and conversationally adept on both sides. We each shared our jobs, what brought us to the area, where we lived, hobbies and so much more. Finally, get to the point by not wasting my time or yours me asked the ever important questions: do you take drugs, have children, want children, etc. All of which were answered honestly and openly with the response I was searching for and even with a sense of twisted humor tossed in. It was shaping up to be a great date for the first hour, so much so I decided I would like to order dinner and stay awhile. As fate might have it, he read my mind and asked if I would like to stay for dinner and move from the bar to a table. Why certainly!!

Dinner and a nice bottle of wine were ordered. The conversation continued mixed in with lots of laughs on dating, life, sports and all kinds of subjects mixed in. By far this was the best date in a long time the girls had set me up on. I think I may have found a match! He was easy to talk to, handsome, funny and there was a click, not chemistry but a relaxing enjoyment and ease about him. Maybe that salesman style was coming out a bit as we went through the night in conversation: he selling himself to me and I was buying, full price-forget the sale and savings, sign me up!!

As a few hours passed and dinner was done, we decided that given the work night and long day ahead, we should call it a night. A true gentleman, he offered to pay for the evening and walk me to my car. Easy and quick, we had both used valet service so that didn’t take long. Once at my car he opened the door and explained he had a good time. I agreed and offered my number. No, he didn’t ask…I offered. Hmmm…that was weird! But, maybe he just forgot and wanted to see where my interest was. Dismissed it and closed the door. Yeah! A good night, finally after quite some time! I enjoyed his company and he not an eye sore in the least; sure I would certainly do it again.

As he entered his car, motioned me to exit first and exclaiming he would follow to ensure my safety home; gentleman qualities appear again. Thanks girls!! Can I call this a great date? Maybe; it was fun and I would like to do it again so why not? As I drove towards my house he followed not too closely but close enough to allow me to know he was there. How sweet is that? Okay, here’s my exit: blinker on and a tap of my brakes. He flashed his bright lights, gave a friendly little toot of the horn as was off into the night. I went my way, he went his: never to be seen again! Yep, you are reading correctly-never saw the guy again, never heard from him, don’t even know his last name-really! Not wasting too much time trying to figure this one out, I can only say that he must not have been the glittering gold I thought he was.