So my date didn’t go as planned.
Instead of romance, we had an intense, thought-provoking conversation. Even though I felt relaxed and comfortable during our 4 hours together, I still needed a few days to recover. That’s the introvert part of me. I always need time to recover and process after concentrated social activity.
I’ve had a few days to think about our discussions. Each day, new insights about what we discussed pop up in my head.
I deeply enjoyed our conversations. I haven’t had that level of conversation with anyone in a long time. Maybe even never before. Her directness and honesty match my own. Her vocabulary and intellectual capacity are off-the-charts impressive. I can’t figure out why this is so compelling to me, but it is.
We’re both weird. Unconventional. Wired differently. And I think we both like being that way.
If I was to design the perfect woman, it wouldn’t be her. Just like if I was to design the perfect man (Brad Pitt?), it wouldn’t be me.
And yet, I want to spend more time with her. I hope she wants to spend more time with me. I have a feeling I think about her a lot more than she thinks about me. But I have no idea and I don’t know if it even matters. Maybe I’ll ask her someday.
Perhaps we’ll become good friends. Perhaps something more.
Only time will tell.
In the meantime, I’m enjoying the process.
This year, I made an intentional decision that this holiday season would be different. I would enjoy the holiday rather than dread it.
I have always liked looking at Christmas lights and decided my new Christmas Eve tradition will be driving around my neighborhood to see the lights and listen to Christmas songs on the radio.
This morning, as I was planning my route, I thought, “I’m going to invite her to join me,” because she said she’ll miss the neighborhood lights. And I know it’s more fun to look at lights with someone else.
I sent her an invitation and she accepted. So my new Christmas Eve tradition begins with a friend instead of me being solo. That is a good way to kick off a tradition.
Merry Christmas.
Update 12/25/21
She came over for Christmas Eve. We had dinner, I gave her some paintings, we drove around to look at the lights, and we spoke for hours. We share so much in common, it sometimes seems beyond coincidence.
On Christmas Day, my friend Atif visited. We hiked, talked and he accepted the gift of a painting too.
It was the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time.