She was late. Five more minutes and I was going to leave. We hadn’t spoken on the phone yet; we only communicated through eHarmony, the dating website that we met through.
We planned to meet at Rosys at the Beach restaurant in downtown Morgan Hill at 8 p.m. It was already a quarter past.
Morgan Hill was the midpoint between the two cities of where we lived – San Jose (me) and San Juan Bautista.
A couple of minutes later, I heard someone talking on their phone.
I turned around and it was her.
She was prettier in person, which in online dating was a rarity.
Sporting a blue peacoat, black boots, her blonde shiny hair and radiant blue eyes captured my attention. I almost forgot that was she nearly 20 minutes late!
When she said “hello,” my throat dried. I was smitten. All I could do was smile.
I opened the door for her and we walked over to the bar. Fortunately, it was near empty and we wouldn’t have to compete with the noise of other bar patrons.
She ordered a glass of Chardonnay and I sipped a pale ale.
Once the conversation began, it never stopped, not even for an awkward pause. She told me about her family, her job and even disclosed her obsession with “The Golden Girls.”
“My friends sent me condolences on my Facebook page when Dorothy (Bea Arthur) passed away.”
Ninety-nine percent of the time, if a girl had made that statement to me on a blind date, I probably would have checked out and plotted my getaway. Instead, I found it all the more endearing. She was bright, well read and interesting to be around.
I hugged her good night and promised to call her, which I did the next day.
We went on a second date and met again in downtown Morgan Hill. This time we had dinner. The sparks were still present. The conversation flowed. We both knew that the date would eventually end, but the dating wouldn’t.
Four and half years later, marriage, home, son and another son-to-be in tow, I continue to adore her and am amazed how lucky I am that I waited for her.
Happy Valentine’s Jen!
