Nine years ago today, I went on my first date with the Mad Scientist. I wasn't expecting much from the night. In fact, I had sworn off men for good the night before. I only kept my date with the Mad Scientist because he was so nice and I hoped we would be good friends. Little did I know . . .
Nine and a half years ago, after taking the New York bar exam (and passing), I got homesick. I found a job and moved back to Michigan. The only problem was that all of my friends were married or engaged. None of them were single and none of them wanted to go out for a girls' night, so I didn't really go out in situations where I could meet guys. (I usually went out with a guy friend and that didn't work well for talking to other guys.)
So, I joined a dating agency. I went on a lot of dates because I was one of the only younger women. But the men! Oh my goodness!!!!
I had one guy who was shorter than me (I'm 5 foot tall!) That same guy refused to even pay the $1.00 for us to ice skate at the public park because he wanted to save all of his money to retire at age 40 and have fun for the rest of his life. It is a good idea, but he DID expect that I would pay for everything. (I had no problem paying, but he especially said he wanted me to pay so that he didn't waste his retirement money!)
There was the really good looking carpenter who couldn't handle the fact that I was a lawyer.
There was the engineer who thought he was doing me a favor by going out with me even though he was NOT good looking, boring, and had an ego larger than the state (all turn offs for me.)
The night before I went out with the Mad Scientist, I went out with a guy who told me he was looking for a woman to marry and take care of him, just like his momma. He told me I wouldn't be able to continue working when we married!
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I swore off men for a long time.
But, I had met the Mad Scientist online in early February. We had emailed extensively. We shared a lot of the same views on life. We talked on the phone and enjoyed that a lot. He was great. Too great I thought. So, I went on the date, hoping for a good friendship.
We met at a bar and grill neither of us had been to. It ended up being dark and dingy, so we hopped in our cars, trying to find someplace else. Neither of us have a sense of direction, so we drove around a bit, but ended up at a great bar and grill. We ate lunch and talked and talked. We walked down to get coffee. I tried to get him to hold my hand. He didn't grab the bait!
We then went back to check the meters on the cars and the Mad Scientist had a parking ticket. So, we went back to my place and played chess and talked some more. We had deep discussions--everything from capital punishment and abortion to atheism and religion. He never tried to hold my hand or kiss me though, so I was resigned to him being the friend I had thought he'd be at the beginning.
After a 6+ hour date, the Mad Scientist went to leave. It was then that he finally kissed me!
I knew at that point that I was in love with this man.
And the rest is history.
Nine and a half years ago, after taking the New York bar exam (and passing), I got homesick. I found a job and moved back to Michigan. The only problem was that all of my friends were married or engaged. None of them were single and none of them wanted to go out for a girls' night, so I didn't really go out in situations where I could meet guys. (I usually went out with a guy friend and that didn't work well for talking to other guys.)
So, I joined a dating agency. I went on a lot of dates because I was one of the only younger women. But the men! Oh my goodness!!!!
I had one guy who was shorter than me (I'm 5 foot tall!) That same guy refused to even pay the $1.00 for us to ice skate at the public park because he wanted to save all of his money to retire at age 40 and have fun for the rest of his life. It is a good idea, but he DID expect that I would pay for everything. (I had no problem paying, but he especially said he wanted me to pay so that he didn't waste his retirement money!)
There was the really good looking carpenter who couldn't handle the fact that I was a lawyer.
There was the engineer who thought he was doing me a favor by going out with me even though he was NOT good looking, boring, and had an ego larger than the state (all turn offs for me.)
The night before I went out with the Mad Scientist, I went out with a guy who told me he was looking for a woman to marry and take care of him, just like his momma. He told me I wouldn't be able to continue working when we married!
That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I swore off men for a long time.
But, I had met the Mad Scientist online in early February. We had emailed extensively. We shared a lot of the same views on life. We talked on the phone and enjoyed that a lot. He was great. Too great I thought. So, I went on the date, hoping for a good friendship.
We met at a bar and grill neither of us had been to. It ended up being dark and dingy, so we hopped in our cars, trying to find someplace else. Neither of us have a sense of direction, so we drove around a bit, but ended up at a great bar and grill. We ate lunch and talked and talked. We walked down to get coffee. I tried to get him to hold my hand. He didn't grab the bait!
We then went back to check the meters on the cars and the Mad Scientist had a parking ticket. So, we went back to my place and played chess and talked some more. We had deep discussions--everything from capital punishment and abortion to atheism and religion. He never tried to hold my hand or kiss me though, so I was resigned to him being the friend I had thought he'd be at the beginning.
After a 6+ hour date, the Mad Scientist went to leave. It was then that he finally kissed me!
I knew at that point that I was in love with this man.
And the rest is history.
Awww... Isn't that sweet? <3
ReplyDeleteI think dating has become more, rather than less, complicated with the age of computers. That said, both of our boys (even after being warned not to try and meet someone on the internet) met their wives online. Both were excellent choices. Our younger son met his wife for the first time at a brewing company bar. He had a coke and she had a water!! They talked and talked and have been together ever since. I love your story of dating (what a group of losers you had to wade through) and finding the Mad Scientist!!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie