The Blind Date

“Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Again! Ugh” I said inwardly as I looked at myself in the mirror while getting ready for this blind date Sophie set up and had been nagging me about for months to go on.

I know she means well as all my close girl friends are all happily coupled up but I really hate being set up with “the perfect guy for me” and then having to rehash the horrid date, living through that humiliation all over again when they ask for “the deets”. Why couldn’t they understand that I was perfectly content being on my own? Being alone does NOT mean the same as being lonely!! Geez already. They really make me get into that headspace of my insecure teenage self, well at least I have one benefit now.... I can unwind with a nice glass of merlot. My favorite right now is from Bright Cellars and I pour myself a glass to let us both breathe as I psych myself up to get going.

I did one final turn in the mirror noting that the red wrap dress had worked its magic once again and I gave myself the nod of approval and shimmied over to my glass as I played some bossa nova in the background, my meditative music.

I went over Sophie’s notes on Bryan, my newest blind date. On paper he seems ‘ok’ but more often than not that’s the case and I leave my date disappointed. The girls are beginning to think I’m too picky I’m sure, but at this stage why should I settle, right?

I finish my glass of wine, go brush my teeth, touch up my makeup, slip on my nude patent leather stiletto heels and head out the door.

Nerves get the best of me though I’ve done this oh so many times and I enter the restaurant and head to the bar where we’re supposed to meet. I am so in my head that I barely hear someone say my name; Bryan’s here.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you”, I say as I extend my hand for a handshake and he misreads what’s going on and awkwardly chest bumps me going in for a hug. Trying to correct himself he tries to retreat and gets his watch stuck in my hair which he then tangles in my earrings. Smh. Great start to the evening...

I smile wanly as he stammers an apology, looking aghast at his bumble. I try to cut the guy some slack and suggest we head to a table to start dinner thinking, “the sooner this is started the sooner this evening is over”. We slide into our seats and I’m already mentally checking out pretty much, as Bryan has totally shut down and looks to be cowering with shame even as I try to start a basic conversation. I give up, order myself a glass of Bright Cellars Merlot and Bryan looks up, finally, with a slight glimmer of confidence returning as he says, ”I’ll have the same. That’s actually my favorite merlot! Can I make a confession? I actually had a glass before I got here to help me unwind as I listened to bossa nova.”

The coincidence! We seem to have something in common. Ok, my interest is piqued, I can see why Sophie set us up. Maybe this evening won’t be so bad after all!!

I guess I’ll have to see where it leads.... I’m kinda excited!!

“Cheers, Bryan! Here’s to breaking the ice and getting to know each other better. Hoping this will be a great night!”

“Cheers!”, Bryan replies and he finally looks relaxed and slowly a smile traipses across his face, revealing a most beautiful, charming and disarming smile. Now this IS a date that I can totally get behind!!