Rules? What Rules?
It was a time for desperate measures today. Some time ago I had purchased front-row tickets to see a much-adored performance and hoped to surprise my then-boyfriend (who was just as big a fan) with them at an opportune time. But before I had a chance to tell him he broke up with me.
So then I began to ask around, thinking one of my friends would leap at the opportunity to come. But no-one wanted to - everyone had plans or just wasn't into the show's performer. Panic levels rising like a thermometer in January, I tried asking my sister - but she was going to a concert. Then I thought about asking someone from work then cringed at the thought of potential political ramifications if I chose one colleague over another.
With horror, I then envisioned standing outside the concert hall in a trench coat furtively whispering to passers-by "Ticket for the show tonight, seventy bucks.". Knowing my luck, I would whisper it in the ear of an off-duty police officer. Then I would end up utterly forfeiting my entire night of fun for an evening of getting my fingers squished into an inkpad by a hairy-knuckled cop before spending time preparing an insanity plea from the confines of my rather unentertaining prison cell. And it would be all HIS fault. Bastard.
And then I made the decision. I was going to find a date. And not an unappetising one either.
With an uncharacteristic display of confidence I announced to my friend my plans for finding my date. She rolled her eyes. "It's not that difficult." I announced flippantly, "I'll just go out and get one." She scoffed and I felt my dopamine levels rising as my eyes narrowed in steely determination.
This wasn't about pursuing man-flesh this was a very serious mission to salvage the vision I had nurtured and held close to me of what this evening was going to be. Fate had screwed me over and I had that happen just one too many times for one lifetime. This time, I wasn't going to take it lying down. This was a mission worthy of an experienced hunter, a femme fatale, a master of charm...and I had no idea what I was doing.
But I already had a couple of possibilities up my sleeve. My friend knew a guy who had been wanting to meet me for a while - he was blonde, young, scientist and sounded nice. Then, there was another guy which a workmate wanted to hook me up with over dinner at her place. These were both good possibilities but it today was Tuesday and I needed to find someone before Sunday. I needed a Mr-Right- Now.
And then I saw him. Tall, athletic, courteous, friendly, twenty-four years old and just, really nice too. He was a salesman and at first I walked away with his business card tucked politely in my handbag. Halfway to the staff room I stopped. If I continued, I would be doing what I had always done and I could very well spend the rest of my life walking away with another 'what if' in my already overstuffed suitcase.
So I turned around. I went straight back in and chatted to him for a while about the product. Then came the moment of truth. He asked, "Is there anything else you would like to ask me?" Fear gripped my throat. I tried to assess just how crazy this idea of mine was. After all he was virtually a stranger. Then I said to myself, stop thinking about it, it's not that hard (haven't I seen this done a thousand times before?). And so I did it. I asked him. He looked surprised but it must have been a pleasant one because this evening he called and said he would be delighted to come with me.
And so now I have a date. And I have awarded myself an invisible but extremely shiny medal of bravery.
So then I began to ask around, thinking one of my friends would leap at the opportunity to come. But no-one wanted to - everyone had plans or just wasn't into the show's performer. Panic levels rising like a thermometer in January, I tried asking my sister - but she was going to a concert. Then I thought about asking someone from work then cringed at the thought of potential political ramifications if I chose one colleague over another.
With horror, I then envisioned standing outside the concert hall in a trench coat furtively whispering to passers-by "Ticket for the show tonight, seventy bucks.". Knowing my luck, I would whisper it in the ear of an off-duty police officer. Then I would end up utterly forfeiting my entire night of fun for an evening of getting my fingers squished into an inkpad by a hairy-knuckled cop before spending time preparing an insanity plea from the confines of my rather unentertaining prison cell. And it would be all HIS fault. Bastard.
And then I made the decision. I was going to find a date. And not an unappetising one either.
With an uncharacteristic display of confidence I announced to my friend my plans for finding my date. She rolled her eyes. "It's not that difficult." I announced flippantly, "I'll just go out and get one." She scoffed and I felt my dopamine levels rising as my eyes narrowed in steely determination.
This wasn't about pursuing man-flesh this was a very serious mission to salvage the vision I had nurtured and held close to me of what this evening was going to be. Fate had screwed me over and I had that happen just one too many times for one lifetime. This time, I wasn't going to take it lying down. This was a mission worthy of an experienced hunter, a femme fatale, a master of charm...and I had no idea what I was doing.
But I already had a couple of possibilities up my sleeve. My friend knew a guy who had been wanting to meet me for a while - he was blonde, young, scientist and sounded nice. Then, there was another guy which a workmate wanted to hook me up with over dinner at her place. These were both good possibilities but it today was Tuesday and I needed to find someone before Sunday. I needed a Mr-Right- Now.
And then I saw him. Tall, athletic, courteous, friendly, twenty-four years old and just, really nice too. He was a salesman and at first I walked away with his business card tucked politely in my handbag. Halfway to the staff room I stopped. If I continued, I would be doing what I had always done and I could very well spend the rest of my life walking away with another 'what if' in my already overstuffed suitcase.
So I turned around. I went straight back in and chatted to him for a while about the product. Then came the moment of truth. He asked, "Is there anything else you would like to ask me?" Fear gripped my throat. I tried to assess just how crazy this idea of mine was. After all he was virtually a stranger. Then I said to myself, stop thinking about it, it's not that hard (haven't I seen this done a thousand times before?). And so I did it. I asked him. He looked surprised but it must have been a pleasant one because this evening he called and said he would be delighted to come with me.
And so now I have a date. And I have awarded myself an invisible but extremely shiny medal of bravery.
