The Dating Game

Last night, at Cafe du Soleil, I sat next to a couple on their first date.  I wasn't sure it was a first date initially, but it seemed likely when the woman came up and said, "Are you Steven?" 

At that point it could have been a work meeting of some sort.  However, when she came back with a beer--Steven had nabbed a table earlier and was drinking coffee--and said, "Hi Steven!," I knew.  They met online and had arrived at the first in-person chat.

Of course I shouldn't have eavesdropped, but I did so anyway. (My lame excuse is that the tables at Cafe du Soleil are only 3 inches away from each other.)  They talked about a common background in New Jersey and of  Meyers-Briggs types.  Steven was impressed that she guessed three out of his four parameters; she (sorry, I never heard her name) demurred that she "had a profile to work with."  And so forth--here was the dating game banter, and it felt very sweet.  They seemed like two good people who just want to be happy, and in the end don't we all?

My cynical male side figured that all of Steven's kind words were just a ruse to get her into bed, if not on that date then on the next one.  But as someone who's had to figure out what dating means for himself recently, I know how awkward it can be (for men, for women, for everyone.)  So I decided to cut Steven some mental slack.  We're all bumping along out there, destined to make our mistakes and build up our share of regrets. And yet we never give up hope for a better future ahead.  That's a glorious kind of faith, if you think about it.

So good luck Steven.  Good luck lovely lady.  Good luck everybody.

Comments

[Linda Socha]

Beautifully written with a wistful underlay that reminds me of the first wisteria of the season...
Good Luck indeed to us all who dare the path of love made visible
Linda