the other morning i was listening to a segment, second date update, on my morning radio program. sometimes the stories on there are totally nutso. for those who are in committed relationships, thank your lucky stars. the process of dating can roughly be translated into accidentally finding yourself committed to a psychiatric ward. at this stage in the game we all come with hefty bags and a set of ideals that are hard to alter. anyway, there was something the host said "can i lose them at the next exit?" that reminded of a date i had gone on a few years ago.
i don't even remember where i met this person, but i know it wasn't through an online service. i have a vague recollection that i was in snohomish when i met this gentleman. i don't even remember his name. man that is sad. somehow a couple of weeks later i ended up at dinner with this man.
we went to buca di beppos, an italian joint. i love pasta and bread, so this was a good pick for me. from what i remember things went pretty well, but i just wasn't into him. i'm not sure what it was about him, but i knew that this was a one time thing for me. as we were wrapping up dinner he started asking if i wanted to continue the date and go do something else.
i distinctly remember telling him no thank you. i had absolutely no interest in going anywhere with him, getting a drink with him, or seeing him anymore. he kept pressing the issue. i continued to say no. his tactic changed from asking nicely but repeatedly to making me feel bad because i wasn't interested. just an fyi fellas, this tactic doesn't work at all.
anyway, as we were leaving i gave him a customary hug and thanked him for his time. he again insisted that i follow him to some bar for a drink and a round of darts. although i had no intention of honoring his plea, i said, "sure lead the way." i know. i know. one should never agree when they know they aren't going to follow through, but there wasn't any other way to get out of there. he wasn't taking no for an answer.
so he got in his car, i got in my car and our caravan of two motored down the freeway. i followed at a respectable distance, but didn't dare pass him, thinking he would then follow me. as we were approaching the exit, that i knew he was going to take and i wasn't, my stomach started to protest. i knew what i was about to do was really crummy, but i had tried to tell the guy.
i watched his car turn off the freeway
his taillights fading into the night.
my phone started ringing almost immediately after i passed the exit. i didn't answer it. i had nothing to say to him. i had already told him, he didn't hear what i was saying and i ditched him. i didn't feel good about it, my stomach was still protesting, but really. so i did what every girl does, i called my best friend.
she knew i was out on a date. i generally followed up with her on how things went, or text her something during whether it was a thumbs up or down. she answered asking "how did it go?" i answered "i ditched him." after explaining we broke out in laughter. another one in the NO column.
i did follow up with him the next day, apologizing for not showing up and that i wasn't interested in seeing him again and that was the end of it.
this is the one and only time i have ever done this. i wouldn't recommend this as your go to exit strategy, but in some situations it is the only way.
