Blind Dates Can Turn Out Successfully
Tales has beaten up on blind dates plenty. It’s time to say a good word for all the fix-ups that end up happily - with a friend, a partner, even a spouse. So, here’s to the blind date, the good, the very good, the great and the occasional disaster.
Sondra: “This summer I saw a high school friend and her husband in the hardware store. I hadn’t seen her in 20 years. In our conversation, I mentioned I was single. Her husband wondered if I were free on Friday, as he had a college buddy visiting from Atlanta to help celebrate his 40th birthday. I had really sworn off blind dates, but I agreed to give it one last try. We were introduced that Friday, and we hit it off immediately. Since then I’ve visited him in Atlanta, he’s visited me in Detroit, and we recently enjoyed a rendezvous in the Gulf of Mexico. We’re now talking about a future together. Some blind dates are made in heaven.”
Karla: “I was 30 and quite content with the thought of living life alone. After years of one-date wonders and a couple of very serious relationships, I decided I’d be happier by myself. My best friend asked if I was interested in meeting a friend of a friend. I was very reluctant. She had set me up on a blind date from hell years earlier. And this new guy was 10 years older than me. However, she talked me into it. He called and was actually a nice guy. We decided to meet after work. We had a great time. Had lots to talk about. That was on April 9, 1992. On Sept. 9, 1994, we got married, and nine months later, on June 9, 1995, our son was born. The following year, on July 10, 1996, our daughter was born. We’re very happy and feel blessed to have found each other.”
Lainie: “We were fixed up by a friend of my parents and his sister. We talked on the phone at least twice before meeting for dinner after work. It happened to be the day after Valentine’s Day. We had a nice dinner and I remember thinking, ‘This is a nice guy and he is worth getting to know.’ I knew the feeling was mutual when, as he walked me to my car, he pulled a box of Godiva Chocolates out of his coat pocket and wished me a Happy Valentine’s Day. We laugh to this day, because I know if it had been a bummer date, he would have taken those chocolates home to his children! We dated for two years and have been happily married since June.”
Cassie: “I was fixed up with a guy who came with high recommendations. He did have a slightly amusing personality, but to me, he was full of it and of himself. I knew I would never see him again, but I had an idea. I had a single friend who always fell for these showy guys. I suggested he call her, and he did. They had some great dates, even traveled together. He bought her a dime store diamond and told her he was going to replace it with a real one. He met her children and charmed them. … Anyway, after several months, he dumped her. But she had some great times with him and has never regretted the fix-up.”
Sarah: “What could be more embarrassing than this? I was set up with a guy I knew! The only problem was, I didn’t know his name. We rode the same train every morning, in the same car. I knew his nauseating habits. He clipped his nails on the train and blew his nose for what seemed like hours. He was always picking his ears and his face. I would try to sit as far away from him as possible, but I swear, sometimes I would find myself looking at him out of pure perversion. When he showed up at my door, I nearly barfed. I never let on that I knew him, and I started taking a later train.”
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