Blind Date Redux
I recently went on a blind date without first seeing the woman’s photo. That goes against one of my biggest online dating rules. I prefer seeing a photo before meeting so I can gauge whether there might be chemistry. Certain women turn my head; it can’t be predicted.
But after the backlash I received from some female commentators on my post where I decided not to meet a blind date because her friend in the photo was cuter, I decided I’d just let things fly this time, and meet sans pic. Besides, we’d emailed once before a few months back. If we found each other twice online, we should probably meet. It was just a Craigslist “want to meet for a drink?” type post.
I got to Starbucks first, and when my date came in I did a double take. Had we already gone on a blind first date once before?
She didn’t do a double-take back, so I figured it was my imagination playing tricks. Maybe I had seen her face on some other dating site, and simply remembered it. Or maybe we’d crossed paths in real life.
We chatted for a while, sharing bits and pieces of our lives. It’s overwhelming to simply do an autobiographical dump on a first date. Better to flirt and weave an intriguing but truthful story.
Half an hour into it, she fessed up. “Funny how we crossed paths again,” she said.
So it was her!
“I was thinking we’d met before,” I said.
She gave me a quizzical look. “I meant it’s funny we emailed before but never met.”
“Didn’t we meet for drinks a few years back?” I asked.
She furrowed her brow and thought hard. Recognition crept in. “P.F. Changs?” she asked.
Oh, shit. I thought it was another bar. I realized I’d mixed her up with someone else. Maybe we never had met. (Damn!) “I thought it was Empire Tap,” I said.
“No, it was P.F. Changs,” she said. “I totally remember you now. We ordered spring rolls with our drinks. That was like three years ago!”
Spring rolls? WTF! I didn’t remember that detail. But I suddenly remembered everything else about that evening. We’d hit it off well enough, but there hadn’t been enough spark to build on. Partly because she wasn’t keen on dating a man who had kids. She was childless.
And so our second blind date ended much like the first, with well wishes and no intention to meet up again. Seems swapping pics would have saved us both a bit of bother.
Then again, it made for a good blog post. (Funny enough, it’s not the first time I’ve run into someone twice like this. The other time, my blind date was on another blind date with someone else.)
- Online dating – sadly, I’m a bit of an expert (”Best. Dating Post. Ever.”)
- Craigslist Dating for Women
- Online Dating Expectations
- Couch Sex
- 3 Great Places to Meet Women (On Paper)
- Ten Great Reasons to Date a Single Dad
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Comment by Sandy
| August 10th, 2009
So I’m guessing she hasn’t changed her mind about dating a man with kids?
Sandy´s last blog ..Takin’ Care of Business
Comment by Paula
| August 10th, 2009
Dating sounds like SO much work. All the women in my husbands office are single and they have the worst date troubles… he comes home happy he’s not single. We’re both SO glad we don’t have to seek, and seek, and seek. Hope you all find that perfect someone and can just eat spring rolls with the one you love – no more photos needed, ever :-)
Paula´s last blog ..cats, bats, automobiles & other going ons
Comment by MindyMom
| August 10th, 2009
Paula’s right; dating IS a lot of work! And sometimes it’s a lot of effort for nothing.
I’ve been blogging about my dating disasters recently – including today’s post. I think if you’ve been dating as long as we have there’s bound to be those stories but there are good ones too. I have also bumped into someone I went out with years ago and then re-dated him with the same non-result. I figured it was worth a shot and maybe our timing was off the 1st time but it just wasn’t there.
MindyMom´s last blog ..Weekend Highlights: GNO, Kids & More Online Dating
Comment by Danielle
| August 10th, 2009
Hey, what ever happened to your neighbors friend that came over with them to find something in your yard? As I was reading, I was hoping it was her.
Danielle´s last blog ..GNO and more
Comment by QTMama
| August 10th, 2009
Dating is work, but man, DH is right. Makes for some GREAT blog entries. ;)
QTMama´s last blog ..The Date with Make Out Guy
Comment by krn
| August 10th, 2009
Aaah shoot, another redate. Or redo-date. Repedate. Yeah, I like that word best. It was a repedate. You repedated. I dare you to say that three times fast! LOL.
Kudos to you, Dad’s, for giving it a try.
Comment by Kimberly
| August 10th, 2009
Wow, that is ironic given that most of us no longer live in a small town where paths are crossed often. These days in such a wide-traveling world I doubt if I cross paths with people I meet more than once. I guess you could see this as it’s good to know that even thought the world is getting bigger for us, not everyone is a stranger.
Kimberly´s last blog ..Comfort of Words
Comment by jason
| August 10th, 2009
hey dad!
I want on 2 internet-set-up dates this past weekend.
Both were 1 and done. The first was super nice girl, but i just didnt see us dating, the second was pretty flaky and i was super psyched when she got up and suddenly said ‘i think i have to go’ and as she was jumping into the cab that pulled right up she said ’send me an email’ and i thought to myself, thanks but no thanks!
still got a chance to grab dinner at my favorite bar at a restaurant and had a perfectly cooked steak!
at least you tried! but i think you should have put on some of your best flirt moves and see what happens ;-)
great post!
Comment by Barry
| August 10th, 2009
Too funny David. You have to admit, if she remembered the spring rolls, you must have made an impression. Too bad the kids angle made a bigger one.
Barry´s last blog ..What Every Single Parent Must Do Before Taking Their Child On Vacation
Comment by Kristy
| August 10th, 2009
Every time I read these dating horror stories I’m so thrilled again and again that I met my 2nd husband through a friend of mine who knew his brother. We met, we moved in, we did everything unconventional and we’re still together. These stories make me want to go kiss him and thank the heavens I don’t have to repeatedly date the same person who doesn’t want me because I have a child.
Thanks for sharing…this makes my weekend at Daytona Beach having a blast with my sweet husband that much sweeter.
Kristy´s last blog ..One big giant smile
Comment by Sandra
| August 10th, 2009
How interesting.
I’ve never been on a date with the same guy online in that manner before. HOWEVER, I have gone out with a man, had an awkward experience only to have him hired at my company, lol.
I don’t think it was such a big deal that you thought that the woman’s friend was cuter. I think the bigger issue was actually thinking about asking her to hook you up with her friend.
Sandra´s last blog ..A Man of Few Words, But Much Creepiness……..
Comment by trinity67
| August 10th, 2009
I’m a woman and I think one should see a photo first. Nobody has to look like George Clooney or Naomi Watts but if you don’t think he/she is cute then it’s over before it even started.
trinity67´s last blog ..Hey…
Comment by Kat Wilder
| August 10th, 2009
Hey, Dads, that’s what’s called recycling.
Very eco …
;-)
Kat Wilder´s last blog ..Teen sex, coming soon to a bedroom near you
Comment by Lance
| August 11th, 2009
That’s pretty wild, can’t say that’s ever happened to me. One of many reasons to always see pics first.
Comment by Eathan
| August 11th, 2009
wow.. you’re brave for meeting with out seeing a picture. Haven’t you been reading my bad date experiences? lol
Any chance you will remain friends? It seems that you crossed paths for some reason.
Comment by The Exception
| August 11th, 2009
I happen to love this post – I mean talk about the Universe saying “wake up” to both of you and both of you ignoring it!! There is definitely some reason you keep “bumping” into one another!
The Exception´s last blog ..Quick Change – Slice of Life
Comment by Ginger Magnolia
| August 11th, 2009
In the past week or so, I’ve been reminded of your previous blog post about the “cuter friend.” I’ve just begun the whole internet dating circus, and I’m glad there are others like you and Mindy to help guide this grasshopper.
Last night, I was chatting online with one of my perspective suitors, and it turns out that a lot of his friends know a guy I dated a while last fall. He doesn’t know him, but I’m thinking that if we hang out, we’ll be bumping into each other sooner or later…
Ginger Magnolia´s last blog ..Totally Music Tuesday
Comment by Ginger Magnolia
| August 11th, 2009
P.S. I think I found something you might want to include on your dating profile…http://gingermagnolia.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/give-me-a-reason/
Ginger Magnolia´s last blog ..Totally Music Tuesday
Comment by ilinap
| August 11th, 2009
Blind date redux. I must say, I am too shallow to go on a blind date without seeing a photo first. I suppose that’s why my marriage isn’t arranged.
Comment by Lori
| August 12th, 2009
First time I have read your blog and loved this story. I am not brave enough to go on a blind date and now I have an even better reason… I wouldn’t want to be forgotten :)
Lori´s last blog ..No Soup for You!
Comment by BigLittleWolf
| August 13th, 2009
This happened to me with a slightly different twist… WITH a pic…
The guy was nice enough the first time, but sooooo needy. Not my thing. I declined a second date.
A year later, he had lost some weight and grown a beard. I didn’t recognize him. We emailed a few times and then I realized who it was. By then he had asked me out, and I declined as politely as possible. I remembered enough – and could tell through the emails – that nothing had changed, except the belt size and facial hair.
Needless to say, he was pissed, I apologized, but still didn’t want to waste his time, or mine.
The Internet dating world is small indeed.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Light bulb