Wednesday, October 28, 2015

How to Lose a Girl in One Date

This Friday marks 10 years since J and I met.  A decade of us.  The following is a piece I wrote during a summer writing project during my Master's program just a few months prior to that meeting.  I had a request from my SIL to post it so she could read it.  Maybe it will make you smile.  Love doesn't come so easily to all of us...

How to Lose a Girl in One Date

For those single folks out there who just can’t seem to grasp the whole “dating” concept, consider these pointers.  I’m offering them from experience.  Yes, you too can have a disastrous first date.  Traditional first dates often include a meal and a movie.  Sure, there are a million books about what you should do on a date or what you could do to make the date enjoyable for both parties.  However, we have all learned that sometimes the greatest lessons come from non-examples.  So, toss aside your dog-eared copies of Dating for Dummies.  The following is a surefire way to mess up a date.

Step 1: The Arrival

Arrive late.  Not only should you be late picking up your date, but also it’s not a bad idea to call her on the way to confirm those directions one more time.  For instance,
           
Guy (10 minutes late): I’m almost there.  How far is your house from the
taxidermist?

For extra credit, make sure you drive the biggest truck you can find—even if you have to go test drive one overnight.  This works especially well if your date is shorter than average.  Make sure there is no step to assist her on her way up.

Step 2: The Meal

Take her to a crowded restaurant.  While you are waiting an hour for your table, you can stand together in awkward silence.  Be sure and divulge any idiosyncrasies you might have.  Annoying habits fit nicely under this umbrella as well.  Fellas, now’s the time to tell your date that you used to smoke but now you prefer to dip; that cowboy boot lamp on the hostess desk would look great in your bedroom; and don’t forget to comment on the gorgeous woman across the waiting area. 

Step 3: The Conversation

Make fun of your date when she pulls the movie listings out of her purse to help guide the rest of the night.  Comments such as, “You actually cut that out of the paper?!” work quite well.  Oh, and asking how her aunt died will really liven up the conversation.  (They give you those big cloth napkins—she might as well use the whole thing!)

Step 4: The “Extra” Time

When you leave the restaurant, make sure you have some time to kill before the movie starts.  That will give you time to explore those stores you’ve never been to,
           
            “Barnes and Noble Booksellers.  What do they sell there?”

Don’t forget to take her to your favorite store as well.
           
            “Do you like the Home Depot?”

Yes, certainly—there’s nothing women like more on a first date than looking at power tools and plywood with a total stranger!  But remember, Home Depot may close at 9:00, so you might still have to go early to that late show.

Step 5: The Theater, Part I: Before the Movie   

Upon arriving at the movie theater, park that big monster truck as tightly in a space as you can so that your date not only feels she needs a parachute to exit, but she also has to keep the door from slamming into the car next to it.  (NOTE: This is even more effective if you can park next to a brick wall.) When you enter the theater, be sure and ask your date, “You didn’t want anything, did you?”  Not only will she feel obligated to say no, but that gives you plenty of extra cash to spend on an extra-large popcorn and drink!  Make sure you slurp the drink loudly in the theater before the movie starts so everyone else can look at you.  (Wait a minute—this is the late show.  There aren’t too many others in the theater!) 

When you’ve finished your drink, be sure and put it in a cup holder three seats down.  It helps if you explain to your date, “That’s so I won’t be tempted to dip.”  (Just to help her understand.)  Also, if you know all about the architecture of the movie theater—or the contractors who built it—be sure and share it with your date each time the advertisement slide shows on the screen.  I’m sure she didn’t get it the first three times you mentioned it.

Step 6: The Theater, Part II: During the Movie

After you’ve paid big bucks for this late viewing of a popular movie, make sure you fall asleep.  The sooner the better—if you can’t make it through all the previews, it’s okay.  At least you’ll be refreshed for the drive home.  Every time you wake up and catch her looking at you, apologize and drift back off.  It drives girls nuts!

Step 7: The Ride Home

Once your two-hour nap is complete, walk your date back out to the giant of a vehicle you drove.  Comment on what a great movie that was—maybe she didn’t notice you missed it all.  Assure her that you’re perfectly fine to drive home (after all, you just took a nap).   It wouldn’t hurt if you expressed your concern about the amount of gasoline in your tank as you drive her home. 

            “Gee, I sure hope I have enough gas to get home.”

To really push her over the top, as you pass the last convenience store on your way back to her house, take a long hard look at it and ask your date, “Hey, do they sell gas there?” 


            If you follow these simple steps, I promise you’ll have a date she will never forget
!

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