6.30 First Date

So a year ago yesterday, I went on a quasi blind date. I wanted to be adventurous, if not in application, certainly in spirit. Fortunately for me I had a cunning frock, or replica thereof, already on when the invite was extended. A vneck black shirt, black skirt, black shoes.

The last minute invite. That I accepted. And wanted to cancel. But forced myself to go.

I took the train, and got off at the wrong stop. The Ruggles orange line is nowhere near the MFA green line, contrary to what their website says. I flirted with the big dig worker as I walked towards my date, cell phone in hand. Twas muggy, overcast, and my feet hurt in my too tight black shoes that I left on so I looked cuter.

He had on a dark blue suit, with stripes, a red tie, white shirt, dorky shoes and bushy hair. After I said to friends "Have you ever seen the Simpsons? Think "Mr Burns." It was, and still is, in fact "His Worst Suit". He lost the umbrella on the date and I was certain that I had no romantic interest. Whatsoever.

By date two the hair was cut, and on we went. You all know where we ended up.

Yesterday was our one year anniversary. We left the house together with plans to meet in front of the MFA. "I'll take the train " I said as drove past the Ox Bow pet shop, "so it will be the same." Then further "Hey, you are wearing the blue suit". He smiled. "Different tie though" I said. (It was gray.) He smiled again.

I called at 6:25 from the bench outside. "I'm here"

He said "You looked pretty sitting there reading your book. I just drove by" He parked in the garage. "I'm walking along the building" "So am I" I said. I reached the corner and saw a man on a cell phone. I wondered if he too was waiting for a date. He was smiling into the phone and I wanted to stop and tell that that was us a year ago.

Instead I squinted and walked forward more. Walking towards me was a man. He looked shorter. Squiting, squinting. The walk looked familiar. But shorter? Closer still. I see a blue shirt, I see a white shirt, but I see a splash of color down the front. Is it red? Is that him? How can I not recognize him? Vanity, I'm cursed, where are my glasses. Then he's right in front of me.

"You changed your tie"
"I had it in my pocket this morning"

So there we were, a year later, he in the awful blue suit and the same red tie, me in my too small shoes, him needing a hair cut, me wondering if my vneck was too low, so much the same.

"Why do you seem shorter?" I wondered allowed as I reached out to hug him hello.
"Shorter?"
"The first time I met you you seemed taller."
"It's because you're used to me now" he said.

So much the same - but different as we linked fingers, mine with my ring, and his familiar in mine - and we walked into the building. I think now what a difference a year makes.

We had a great anniversary.