The Far Frontier of dating

All right friends, here it is.  The final frontier has been crossed.  I took a leap into the abyss of dating and.... I really sucked at it.

What prompted me to think dating was something I was prepared for? I was so unprepared. Instead of witty conversation, I spent most of the dinner portion of the evening talking about my deceased husband, children, and I am sure I got in a word or two about my grandson.  Holy cow, I imagine that eHarmony is groaning at the lack of proper 1st date etiquette.  And then....

He invited me back to his house to listen to his totally amazing sound system, which is his passion in life. Really?? Unprepared, I found myself completely at a loss as to how to navigate that...... So, I went. As I walked into his lovely home, he asked me to sit in an armchair, put my head back and RELAX.  What???  I had chosen not to have a glass of wine at dinner and I was supposed to relax? The last time I was alone with a man listening to his sound system I was 20 and in college and I ended up marrying him! Did he somehow miss the fact that I have lived the life of a cloistered widow woman the past 5 years?  No, I don't think he missed it. The poor guy was doing his best, but spectacular music not withstanding, I bolted as soon as the opportunity to bolt appeared. Oh, but it does get better. 

It was a cold night in Boulder and my trusty '98 Rav4 has issues with cold and the power-steering. Unless the car is properly warmed up, the minute I try to turn the steering wheel the car emits the most god-awful squealing sounds. To make sure that the whole neighborhood hadn't missed it, I had to make a U turn right in front of his house - since he lives on a dead end street. Utter humiliation.

I was never so happy to open my front door to the waiting love and enthusiasm of Tucker the dog! Safe, warm and wagging tail, he gets me. And then I relaxed.