I have learned from experience that when your friends set you up, it's usually a disaster, so when I allow this to happen, I go in with very low expectations. In this case the couple that was setting me up was coming along as a double. I enjoy their company, so I knew the evening would not be a complete loss. I was to meet them at the designated restaurant at 6:15. Parking was a headache, and while I was still looking for a spot, I got a flat tire. A tire purchased only 7 months ago. I must have run over a bottle or something. I was in my very large truck I use for my business. I limped it into a parking lot, and left it in a no parking zone. While on the phone with AAA, I walked to the restaurant. They said someone would be there in about an hour, and they'd call me on my cell, so I could meet the guy back at my truck. I figured that would be just about when the food arrived at the table. Would this story be part of the answer to the question, "How did you two meet?"
My friends were there when I got there, and my date arrived soon after. Upon meeting her, I felt like my tire, deflated. Was the flat tire an omen? We all made the best of it, and had a nice meal. I missed the call from AAA, because my ringer was off (oops), so we all walked to my truck after dinner, and no surprises, the tire was still flat. I placed a second call, they said about an hour, I asked them to call me when the driver was close, and we walked to a place for desert. When they called back, one of my friends and I set back out to meet the guy. He could not get my spare tire down, which is a full size tire mounted under the truck bed. He fiddled and waggled around with a long metal rod meant to lower the tire but it wouldn't work. He called someone else, who arrived and also couldn't get the spare down. They determined that the mechanism was broken, no doubt from when I was rear-ended this summer, and had to tow the truck away. About an hour passed while my friend and I stood there witnessing the string of non-events in the cold. The tow truck was a flat bed. Watching the driver try to get my truck on his truck was an event! First he pulled it up with the winch, and my truck was too long. All the way up the back tires were only half on the bed. He had to lower it down and shortened the chain on the winch to pull the truck up really close to the winch. After that, the whole truck was on, so he started to lower the ramp to level it out, and as the tow truck took the weight of my truck, the front tires of the tow truck came right off the ground! That was scary to watch.
I said "Nice to meetcha." to my date, and my friends brought me home, where I remain, stranded. Now can I make the rule? No More Blind Dates!
18 comments:
Oh dear, what a disappointing evening! Wasn't the food any good, you had dessert? I’ve never had a blind date but set up plenty of them You’re lucky you're stranded on the other side of the world! Hhehheheee
Anon, Wow, I guess I am lucky in some ways. The food was fine, we had a good time too. Just didn't make a romantic connection. Other than that, and the flat, it was smooth sailing. My friends told me not to give up on them, they know LOTS of singles. (oh boy)
I don't believe in blind dates at all, whether they are set up by well meaning people. I am also not believing in trucktires :-))))
The nicest men and women are to find in the bookstore or library or you name it.... but NOT sitting in a restaurant with a red rose between their teeth and an expecting smile on their faces.
I never had a blind date. I don't know how to handle that. Do you order from a menu in Braille? Does he use a walker? Will he feel the contours of my face to determine how I look and did he wash his hands. Where have those hands been...oh! You mean a blind date! I thought you mean a blind date.
Red Mojo, I just wanted to make you smile. I hope for better things to come. It's a disappointment. You will are bound to meet someone nice sooner. I saw you walk in through the backyard at KJ's house and you looked very cute in your cool shades and powder blue shirt and you drove a convertible. Maybe you should do more grocery shopping or attend a Christmas Party. I found my beloved at a Christmas party. I also noticed a lot of people flirting or just being friendly at the grocery store.
Let's see...
1: Hmn, these beans look very good.
2: Yes, they do. They look perfect, no blemish at all.
1: I love beans.
2: So do I!
1: How do you prepare them?
2: I steam them or make a bean casserole.
1: Oh yum! I like your hair.
2: Oh thank you. Do you live around here?
1: Yes, I do. How about you?
2: I just moved here from Alaska to work with Halliburton.
1: I love halibut!
2: Are you single?
1: Are you flirting?
2: Yes.
1: Me too.
2: Do you want to go for a cup of Starbucks coffee?
1: That sounds wonderful.
2: Oh! But I have to finish my grocery shopping.
1: Okay, maybe a cup of coffee at the deli.
3: Oh for heaven's sakes! I have been listening to you two. Someone needs to take someone's phone number and start running a background check!
Wieneke, Blind dates are hard. I have never been set up with anyone I have the slightest interest in. Oh well. There must be a success story out there somewhere.
Ces, Haahaahaa. You are very funny. Thanks for the laugh. I'm glad to see you here, and glad you are home and feeling like your old self again. :)
YEEEESSSSSS both my Sisters married the dates I set up for them! Hhehhheeeee. Although it was Bearman's best friend and his brother! Too close family ...
Anon, That's crazy, both?
Well, I figured it must've worked for someone once, or why would people keep trying to do it! :)
That's right, think positive! It has worked TWICE ...
Anon, I really like Ces's grocery store method. I think I could start making smaller more frequent trips to the market. :)
I was just waiting for you to go to the No Parking Zone and find your truck towed.
I just read Ces' comment: I think I need to go grocery shopping...
Charlotta-love, I was afraid of that too, but, lucky me! I'm glad to see you here, I really enjoy your blog.
I think I might need to pick up a few items today!
Blind dates work for some people, but I'd rather make my own horrible mistakes than find out for sure how little my friends really know me.
Heartinsanfranciso, LOL, i think you're right on that one, although it is difficult to know whether someone would be attracted to someone else, even if you do know them well. Chemistry is difficult if not impossible to predict. :)
Oh, that's a shame. I've had a few blind dates, and they were never good. And I've set people up, and it's never worked. Still, you never know.
Sure, I try to stay open to the possibility, though it seems about as likely as hitting the lottery.
Well - it could have been worse. That said - sorry about the long evening. I can remember a few long broken down car/truck/motorcycle events, which were just one big pain. I'm impressed that you even went through with it... getting set up on a date seems like torture to me :) *can you tell I haven't really "done" the dating scene much in my lifetime? My current sweetie and I met one summer when I was 14, riding my horse, and he wanted a ride. I traded a ride for a beer, and that was the beginning - some 36 years ago! Lots of life flowing under the bridge for a lot of years in between, but we finally found each other again just 4 short years ago.
tsduff, That's a sweet story. It's funny how we tend to come full circle. I'm glad you're happy. I have not ruled out the possibility that my love is someone I've already known.
Good post.
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