Older and wiser....

Back on the playing field I go. Ready or not dating world, here I come! I took a few dates here and there, none beyond the one date wonder thing and only to find more interesting stories to share.

One day a friend of a friend invited me to a political function. Knowing I had spent the last twenty years in somewhat of a political behind the scenes life being active in all areas: local, state and national politics. My interest was peaked to meet a new and up and coming local political figure, to put it mildly. The hostess was one I had known both casually as well as through work, so I was comfortable going solo to the evening gathering just as I do to most anything. It was a private, by invitation only night, so I knew the caliber of folks attending would be on at least some level the same as mine. And, I was not the least bit surprised: all attendees were conversationally adept and interested in not only bettering their local community, but learning how they could be an integral part of making the lives of others better. I met many new folks, but one in particular paid a special interest in me.

Alex was on the board of a local development group and private business owner. Being on a local board myself for community development, I was interested in his take on the current economic plans, redevelopment initiatives and just overall perspective of the community. We exchanged business cards and he promised to call. Although Alex was much older than I, probably a good twenty-five years or so, I thought to myself this could be an interesting friendship and sharing, networking and becoming yet more involved in what I thought was important. Alex called multiple times over the next few weeks and each time I was impressed with his knowledge of our local community and how our little corner of the world played a role in the greater scheme of life outside. When he invited me to attend a once a month meeting and social of a select group of movers and shakers, I agreed.

I wore the traditional black pant suit and arrived on time, maybe even a bit fashionably late. I didn’t want to interrupt any real business, but wanted to meet and greet those in the group. Alex immediately came to me as I entered the room and nestled me into a corner spot with two chairs, open to viewing all. But, without my realizing it, Alex was standing in front of me, shielding me from all the others. He ordered drinks for us and continued to guard me. One by one as others tried to enter the “safe zone” I had not accomplished anything I set out to do: meet others! Alex talked briefly of who’s who, pointing them out politely, but never introduced me to any of them, only hiding me in the corner. After nearly an hour of this, what I considered bull shit, bee shit or horse shit, I was ready to leave. Alex announced that he was ready to grab a bite to eat and a few were heading out to a different spot, could I join them? Why, yes…maybe, just maybe I could meet someone and see what might be, where their thoughts were and get possibly involved.

We entered location number two for the night: small tapas bar downtown and sat at the bar area, while two others joined us from the original spot. Finally I was actually meeting some others! He ordered a full on meal size of tapas while I said I would just pick from his, if okay. He said sure and ordered a nice wine to accompany. The two others quickly disappeared when the food arrived and it was just the two of us. Well, there were others in the bar, but not in our group of now two at the bar. As Alex devoured the tapas, he asked out of the blue: “So where do you see us?” Not sure what he was asking or if he had been drinking long before I showed up, I said, “What do you mean?” He calmly, without a beat, said…”you know, us?” By then, my radar had honed in on, “Houston, we have a problem.” And, I calmly said, “Oh, we are friends.” I had barely gotten the words off my tongue when he LOUDLY and with much elongation, exclaimed, “FRRRIEEENDDSSS!” Well, I could have crawled under the freakin’ bar at this point, because every single head in that tapas bar turned towards us! Not knowing exactly what to do to calm the situation, I tried to explain that I thought we were meeting to have him introduce me to others and get my involvement for future projects; he’s like my father’s age and that’s just not something I am into. I kept trying to explain as best I could and as calmly without trying to add fuel to the fire that he’s a nice guy, but just too old for me and what I was looking for in dating someone.

Obviously that world traveler, but not worldly side of me was blind sided! Alex was thinking otherwise! Where did that come from? No clue! But, it got worse…without a doubt! Alex proceeded to verbally share all his talents with me. No, not the kind that he plays the violin or is an acclaimed pianist and has produced several cd’s and toured Europe in his youth. The kind of talents that leave a girl thinking: why is he telling me this? Isn’t half the fun experiencing it verses telling someone? What one girl likes, the other may think is freaky or downright weird. Plus, I am a good twenty five years or so younger than him…yuck! That’s like thinking of me and my dad-sick! Not going to happen! Oh my God, I have to get out of here! But, you guessed it, he kept going on. I have no idea what was going through his big or little head; either way, I was SO not interested! Without much hesitation as he rambled on, I decided: “Check please!” And did a disappearing act even Houdini himself would be impressed by! Walked away realizing, older does not mean wiser but only more skeletons in the closet and probably more cooties than I care to deal with!