The Postman doesn't ring
I had a date tonight. The first "first-as in I don't know you, you don't know me" date I've had in I'd say 6 years. Sweet girl, pretty smile. I'm a sucker for the smile. I work with her. We went out to dinner and were going to see "The Postman Always Rings Twice" out on the mall. The conversation was ok. She talked a lot about dogs and food. I listened. I chimed in where I could. I'm not a great conversationalist, but I listen. Everything was nice. Then a storm started brewing, but a migraine headache sent us packing first. So we left as the movie began. She said it wasn't the company and I believe her. Even if it wasn't true, I have to believe her.

Public Transportation throws a whole new wrinkle into dating. Where is the ending point? Is it returning the girl safely to her car? Is it at the logical seperation point? I behaved like a gentleman and offered to escort her to her car. It's a big city. It's late at night. She declined, not surprisingly. So then the date ends when the Metro arrives. No lingering in the doorway or the car. This doorway closes in 15 seconds and says "Doors Closing" and means it. That's a tough way to end a first date, or any date if I remember correctly.

I'm dealing with all of this when the final blow lands. THE GOOD NIGHT PUNCH. Just a soft little jab to the shoulder and a "see you tomorrow." The good night punch may be the hardest punch there is. Soft punch to the shoulder followed by the heart dropping to the toes. I couldn't end on a good night punch, even with "Doors Closing" seconds away. So I reached out and gave a hand squeeze. A vastly superior move to the good night punch, if I do say so myself. It salvaged the moment, but the effects of the good night punch linger on.