When In Doubt, Go On The Date.

Last night I went on my first date with News Guy.  He was an online find, and to be honest I wasn’t particularly looking forward to the date.  Nothing to do with him, but it was a rainy New York Monday evening, and I felt more like putting on sweat pants back at my apartment than putting on the charm in a dimly lit bar.  News Guy works as a cameraman for a well-known TV network.  He had so many interesting stories about his work, and I felt a pang of jealousy hearing about his adventures with apartment dwelling tigers and subway cats.  I skipped the powerpoint and excel stories from my job and instead went with the story about the time my dad took me to a rolling stones concert when I was about 14 and there were two old ladies behind us smoking a joint.   

One awesome thing I learned on my date with News Guy is that you can indeed go to a bar in New York City, order a non-alcoholic beverage, and not be looked at like you have two heads.  Seriously, not one comment or question from him or the bartender.  Dating without drinking is definitely new territory for me, and so far I am finding that I am much more aware of it than anyone else is.  Which is a very good thing.  Not only am I a cheaper date, but my head is clear to make good decisions.  For the first time I’m able to focus on whether I like the guy, instead of worrying so much about if the guy likes me. 

I also learned the power of a sense of humor.  News Guy is one of the funniest guys I have talked to in a long time.  His delivery was so dry and sarcastic, there were times when I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or if he was joking – like when he told me about taking Karate lessons as a kid, and how the whole summer his old man teacher made him do chores like paint fences and wash cars and he was like “when am I going to learn Karate!” and then when he got in a fight, he realized the man had been teaching him all along!!  True story from childhood?  Or the plot to Karate Kid?  I really don’t know.  He was so funny that my cheeks hurt a little from laughing as I got in the car to go home.  I think I even said to my cab driver, “I just went on a first date, the guy was so funny!” to which the driver replied “Holland or Lincoln Tunnel, mam.” 

I really liked News Guy, and will go out with him again if the opportunity arises.  He was kind, cheek-achingly funny, and a gentleman – he opened my car door when it pulled up, kissed my cheek, and told me what a lovely evening he had before sending me on my way. 

And speaking of second dates, I haven’t heard from The Midwesterner.  One of the great things about dating in your thirties – the list of things I potentially did wrong on the date to make him not call is non-existent.  I haven’t spent hours glued to my phone, willing it to ring and double and triple checking that it’s working correctly.  Instead I chalk it up to good practice, and on to the next we go!