1/28/09 - Date Ten: BEST DATE EVER.

Well, not ever, as in my whole entire life, but definitely best date I've had since starting this process. Warning: you are about to enter goofy, gushy land. Harden yourself and prepare for total, out and out girliness. 

You know, it doesn't happen very often that we meet another human being and make an instant connection. When this guy initially contacted me and I read about him/viewed his photos, I was mildly intrigued ... as intrigued as I am with anyone I decide to begin corresponding with. So we began emailing and immediately I wanted to meet this one. His messages to me were long, detailed, decadent almost, poetic in their intricate description of the most mundane of life's activities. And everything was spelled correctly (huge check plus - it's like a resume. There is no excuse for sending an email rife with spelling errors and punctuation disasters. It just makes you seem like a moron or lazy or a lazy moron. None of those are good.) I was thoroughly swept off of my electronic feet so when he asked me out, I jumped at the chance. Bizarrely, he suggested the same restaurant at which I dined with Short Stories (see Date Eight) but because the weather in our city became more and more disgusting as the day wore on (wintry mix, the two most evil words in the English language), and he lives a bit far, I received an email mid-day with a Plan B. He made reservations at another, very similar restaurant which also specializes in Belgian food and beer and we agreed to meet there because it was easier for him to get to. Now, this restaurant is fancy. Very fancy. And I was extremely impressed that he took the initiative and had the confidence to change plans mid-stream (again, huge check plus).

During our correspondence, I joked about the possibility of the conversation going flat mid-date, and proposed that in that event we should each prepare to be conversant on several random topics. For him I chose the following: fly fishing, drag racing, and yodeling. In subsequent emails leading up to the date, he mentioned that he was working on his topics diligently ... I, of course, thought he was joking and played along, saying that I, too, was prepping mine. Those being Sasquatch, Hell's Angels, and fine art. Much to my surprise and great amusement, attached to the Plan B email was a Power Point presentation, complete with graphics, charts, and an annotated index of resources covering the aforementioned topics. He requested that I print it out and bring it along. With pleasure, I did. It's in my purse as I type. 

Well, we didn't need it. From the moment he arrived, until the moment we watched the bartender put that weird plastic cling wrap over the bottles of alcohol, signaling to us to get out, the conversation flowed as though we'd known each other for a lifetime. He looked at me straight on with no hesitation while we talked and the sound of his voice made me melt. He has this slight, almost hidden twang that came out even more in person than it did over the phone and I find it so wonderful. I told him so and he got sort of red and just smiled this perfect, boyish little smile. When he initially sat down with me at the bar while we were waiting for our table, he held his hand out and it was shaking. I asked him whether he was cold and he said no, that he was nervous. I smiled, laughed a little and told him that he shouldn't be, that I wasn't scary. But, come on!! How cute is that?? 

So, after sharing wonderful food, several masterfully prepared drinks, and an absolutely phenomenal dessert, we closed the place down at the bar with one last drink, my suggestion. He asked me what I was doing this coming weekend and I said, "Friday or Saturday?" He said, "Both, I want both." I smiled and told him he could have either. Remember how I said that men never plan a second date while on the current one? Well, I'm happy to be proven wrong about that. 

He got my coat (check plus) and he hailed me a cab (check plus). He opened the door (again, check plus - oh screw it! This guy is one big, AWESOME CHECK PLUS) and before I got in, he hugged me tightly, gave me a sweet peck on the cheek and sent me off. As the cab slowed to turn the corner, I looked out and he was watching it drive away, just standing there in the cold, wet remains of the day's weather disaster. I waved, he waved, and I smiled, hugely from ear to ear all the way home. 

Once home, the texts started. He is taking Friday. Friday, I'm all his, as he so wonderfully typed it. It's 6:05 a.m., I could barely sleep last night, and I'm still smiling. Stupidly. Foolishly. Ear to ear.