On Awkward First Dates

It's was the Partner and I's anniversary in November and it gave me quite a bit to think about! I'm still glad I said yes and especially glad that even after the most awkward of first dates we still gave it a shot :).

Let me tell you how it went. So we had been talking everyday on the phone for weeks, emails, bbm, Gchat and phone calls. You know that stage right when every breathing moment is spent in some kind of communication with the other? During our conversations we had talked about going out together and what our dates would be like. I made it very clear that when the time came, he couldn't just be like "let's hang" and  then I'd go over and watch movies or something. No, I wanted the works, or at least dinner + wine. Other than that though I left everything else up to him.

Unfortunately on the actual day of the first date, I fell ill. By noon that day fever and body aches were ravaging my body and at 1p.m. I finally called off our dinner date (I wonder if it would have been different if we had gone that day). I ended up being really ill for about 10 days which was not only exhausting but strange for me.

We were finally able to reschedule two weeks after the original date. He picked me up and we chatted lightly on our way to the restaurant, there was just a tad of stiffness in the air but I had anticipated that. He kept  staring at me (side-eye he still does lol) which made me a bit uncomfortable. We finally arrived at the restaurant, and things went OK, we ordered- I think I ordered lamb or something.

Sigh, there are so many things you don't take into account when you're not spending one-on-one time, I mean there is tons of body language to be processed. I couldn't stare back at him so I just awkwardly pushed my food around and muttered quiet replies. The conversation was halting but not terrible and overall dinner wasn't bad.

So here is where it got really awkward. I had decided that I wanted to go sleep over at my friend's place that night so told him there was no need to take me home. He insisted that he would take me to my friend's house which was a bit off the grid, another friend wanted to go so we picked her up (stay with me here...), we were all in the car and tried to make conversation but it wasn't really flowing. To worsen the situation, we were stuck in stand still traffic a 40min drive became 4hours (I'm not kidding). It was horrid. Homeboy was humming to some music and it was driving me nuts so I turned and faced the window till we finally reached our destination way past midnight.

We got out of the car and there was no hug, no kiss on the cheek just a mumbled goodbye. I couldn't believe it, the whole thing was so funny(strange) to me. We spoke a little the next day but it wasn't the same. I was so sad but I let it be for a while, slowly we got back to where we were, talked it all out and realised that we both had big expectations and forgot about the little details.

Our second date was a complete 180 turn. We had such a great time that the restaurant has become one of my favorites (virtual cookie for who can guess). Looking back I'm thankful that I gave it another shot, because the truth is that we are both very different in many ways and still have to work out the kinks from time to time, but in that difference, there is MAGIC and it is beautiful.

As I've said before, Baby you're worth the work!
Happy anniversary!

Yaay to second chances.

Are you one to give second chances? why or why not?

Love always,
Sabirah.