Date & Dish

3 years ago I met an intriguing woman from the Friendster website.  I remember our first date.  I picked her up and we had drinks at the W close to where she lived.  It was the 4th of July.  At the bar we got to know each other.  Afterwards we went back to her place.  From her balcony we literally saw 6 or 7 different fireworks displays at the same time.  I remember thinking how romantic it was.

This woman had a forbidding schedule.  She worked 2 part-time jobs and went to school full-time.  The only times I could see her where these small windows, usually late at night since one of her jobs was as a waitress.  I understood and simply enjoyed the time I had with her.

She lived in a building where you had to call before going up.  One of my fondest memories is how she’d be waiting for me at the elevator when I came to see her.

It took about 8 weeks for this to implode.  The schedule took a toll on her.  She became increasingly irritable and difficult to be around.  I decided it was best for me to step away.

I know you’re still wondering why she’s intriguing?  Hopefully!

She’s not American.  She is from South Africa.  She sees things completely different from me and speaks her mind with, at times, acidic clarity.  I like that.  We don’t agree on much of anything, music, movies, TV shows and art.  Yet we have a chemistry.

Last week, out of the blue and without a peep for 3 years, I wrote her.  She responded back the next day and suggested we get together to catch up.  I took her up on the offer.

Yesterday we went to Grant Park for the Summer Shade Festival.  If you’ve never been to this event it’s basically just like The Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park, only 10x hotter.

She came over to my house before going to Grant Park.  She looked better than before.  I always loved her eyes and lips.  I also loved her accent.

We walked through artists’ tents trying not to step on children that seemed to be everywhere.

She asked, “Do you want kids?”

“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t,” I said.  “It’s when I see the screaming kid at Target that I don’t want kids.  When I see the girl riding her pink bike down the street with her mom following close behind, that’s when I want kids.”

We talked about 3 years ago and that I had more good memories than bad.  She said that was a good thing.

After an hour in the blazing heat we went to Joe’s in East Atlanta to cool down.  We both had my personal favorite, the double-brewed iced coffee.  We chatted more about all the things we don’t agree on.

We got back to my place and I asked her if she wanted to continue this.  She said she did.  I wasn’t getting a “kiss vibe” from her.  So I didn’t.

This will be interesting.  She is in a better space than before.  She has a job she enjoys.  She still has a direct, non-sugar coated delivery that is a bit unnerving at times.  She keeps me on my toes and I like that.  So, here’s to second chances.