I had a date on Sunday. Yes… a date. It was planned before Thanksgiving, so I revised my schedule with my mom so I could come back Saturday night, rest up and be ready for it. It was pretty casual– we planned to meet briefly and see a movie.
I met him online, of course. The pictures all looked good to me and we really seemed to hit it off nicely. We chatted for months… and I do mean months. So it seemed natural that it was time for us to actually meet in person.
Unfortunately, things weren’t as good in person.
I went to get my hair cut before heading out to meet him. They were busy and the haircut ran late. I phoned him just as I got out– 15 minutes before the movie was to start. Fuck. I knew this wasn’t going to be good. I drove as quickly as I could to the theater but it was definitely too late to see the movie. He was waiting for me in front of the box office.
Now I should add that I have been dealing with a cold sore the last few days as well. It showed up on Wednesday and is just about gone, but it’s still visible. I hate those motherfuckers. I have all the medicines in the world: Abreva, Releev, Carmex, Blistex, and so on. Sometimes they work great, but this time it’s being difficult. So I had that headache added to the mix.
Anyway, I got there and he was waiting for me. And right away I could sense that things were going to go sour. He just… didn’t talk much. As in– hardly at all. I asked him if he’d like to see another movie, and he turned to stare at the movie times for at least 5 minutes without saying a word. So I asked him, “…anything look good?”
No response.
Then he said, “Well, the next showing (of the movie we were planning to see) is at 3:30 so that’s one and a half hours with nothing to do.”
Well alrighty then, Mr. Glass Half Empty! So I said, “Well, surely there’s someplace we can go to spend the time.”
More silence… then, “Well, I’m sure there’s a Starbucks nearby. In fact I think I saw one around the corner.”
So we left to grab a cup of coffee. We went in, ordered our lattes, and found a seat by the window. Once we got settled, we actually talked a bit and had some decent conversation. But it didn’t last long. After about 10 minutes, the silence started.
And it lingered… and lingered… and lingered.
He sipped his coffee. I sipped mine.
Hello, awkward!
This roundelay of brief conversation and LONG silences happened at least four times, and each time the slience grew longer and longer. By the third time I had already planned my escape. There was a Chipotle across the street. I was hungry and hadn’t eaten lunch yet. When we finished our coffee and got up to leave, I would say I was going to run and grab a bite, rather than see the movie.
So when the moment arrived, he said he would like to walk through the Borders across the street for a while. I gave him my Chipotle story (which wasn’t a lie– I truly was hungry). He didn’t seem all that disappointed, and Lord knows I wasn’t either.
So we said our goodbyes and parted.
And so ends the first date I’ve had in at least 2 years.
The first thing I said to myself as I crossed the street is the title of this post: “I’m now reminded why I am still single.” Dating sucks ass, and I hate it. I am so much happier– so much better off being alone. I have friends. I have family. That should be enough for me. Screw the rest. It’s not worth the effort, especially when it’s as painful as this was.
Aw but hell, who am I kidding? I’ll try again when the time — and the guy — is right.
Maybe…
Rick's Launching Pad 