I’m exhausted and really need to get to bed, but I wanted to at least start recounting my latest date. Oh, where do I begin with Pat….First off, I really wanted to like him. On paper he’s everything I’m looking for (besides being slightly younger than me). He graduated from a top school, has a good job, enjoys the same TV shows as me, and loves food (a huge plus), especially Indian and other ethnic varieties. But I’ve learned by now that what seems great on paper is usually not so great in real life.  Even still, as I got ready to go meet Pat, I couldn’t help but have high hopes.     

The instant I saw him I knew he wasn’t right for me. I can’t say he didn’t look at all like his photos, but they were very misleading. In person, his young age definitely showed.  He had the height thing going for him but was skinnier than I’d like and much more effeminate, and he seemed to lack the air of confidence I find so appealing.  We exchanged an awkward hug and I tried to mask my disappointment. It was already clear to me that we weren’t going to hit it off, but we had a date planned, so I tried to be pleasant and make the most of it.  A voice in my head told me to give the guy a chance and not be so quick to write him off, but I knew deep down that there was no way my feelings would change. 

We originally planned to get coffee—or some other type of drink since he apparently doesn’t like the taste (strike #1!)—but Pat expressed interest in having something to eat.  Despite eating lunch just a couple hours before, he was ready for lunch number two, so we hit up a diner instead, where he could have a real meal and I could just stick to coffee. 

Waiting for his food to arrive, Pat confessed to me that people often think he’s gay.  He went on to describe how men hit on him all the time, somehow thinking this might be a turn on for me.  I tried to act surprised about this, although, in all honesty, I had been questioning his sexually since our one phone conversation. Our talk eventually drifted to more ordinary things and we managed to keep things flowing throughout our brief time at the diner, but my mind kept drifting to thoughts of what else we could possibly do on this date.  A quick glance at my watch revealed that it hadn’t even been an hour, although it felt like eternity. He had come in from outside the city, so I couldn’t just bolt.  I had to at least pretend to make his trip worthwhile….

Hate to cut this short but if I don’t get some sleep I’m going to be worthless at work tomorrow.  More to come on Pat. Stay tuned.