Adventure tale #7
I met Red-Light Runner (RLR) on eHarmony in September 2010. September was somewhat of a tumultuous month for me. I had to move out of the apartment where I had lived for almost 16 years. So, on top of a hectic work schedule, having to sort, toss, and pack 16 years worth of my life, and move, I was also still trying to date.
RLR lived just outside SF, but lived in the City for about a year. We went through the guided eHarmony communication process somewhat quickly, then exchanged personal email addresses. We had several email exchanges. On about our 3rd exchange, he asked me out for the weekend to go check out the SF Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). To add to the tumult of September, I went to Monterey for my brother's birthday, and agreed to meet RLR on a Sunday after I got home from Monterey. It was one of those hot SF Septembers, and I remember calling RLR on my drive back to SF from Monterey. I think I called him at around 12pm-ish. I actually woke him up. I let him know I'd be back in SF around 2:30 or 3, and could head out to the museum around then. He asked if I wanted to meet him at the museum or if I would like him to pick me up. I decided to let him pick me up, so I texted him my address. He actually asked for directions... That struck me as a little strange. I was thinking, "why can't he just look it up on google maps or something?" I told him that I didn't really know where he was coming from, so it would probably be best if he just googled it.
So, I made it home, changed my clothes (put on a cute black dress, flip flops, grabbed a purple cardigan, and a denim jacked just in case it got cool that night), and waited for RLR to show up. About 15 mins after he was supposed to pick me up, he texted and said he got a little lost and would be to my place in about 5 mins. I remember thinking, "he got lost? Didn't he say he lived near me for a while? Random." So, he gets to my place, rings the doorbell. I go down, he gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, opens the car door for me, and helps me into his car. He was kind of visibly nervous. He was also sweating - it was probably around 85 or 90 degrees and he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and dressy-ish shoes. If it is 85 or 90 in SF, that means it is warmer elsehwhere in the bay area, especially where he lived. I remember thinking why is he wearing a long-sleeved shirt, it is hot outside. I also thought he was cute and a little short. I do prefer dating guys who are taller than me, but height isn't a complete deal breaker. Whatever. So, I get in the car and we begin our journey to the SF MOMA. He didn't really know how to get there, so I directed him. We parked, walked over to the museum, and began our foray into the world of modern art. It was actually kind of fun - we walked around, talked about the various pieces of art we saw, and had a nice time. After about 3 hours or so in the museum, we were both pretty much ready to get out of there, and we were both hungry.
We left the museum and were talking about where to go for dinner. I suggested several places within walking distance of the museum, but he didn't seem receptive to them. He said that he had marked some places in his other phone that was in the car. Yes, RLR had 2 cell phones. I thought it was a little strange. Granted, I have 2 cell phones too - 1 is my personal phone, and 1 is my work phone. But his 2 phones were both personal phones... He used one primarily for navigation and web-browsing, and the other for phone calls. In this day and age, isn't one smartphone sufficient? Who knows. So, we went to his car, got in, and he took out the 2nd phone whose battery was dead because he forgot to turn off the navigation... So, he's like a fish out of water, can't remember any of the places he wanted to try for dinner, and was really nervous and flustered about it... I suggested a few different places in the Mission, and we finally agreed on Luna Park.
He doesn't know how to get there, so I directed him. As we are driving, we were talking about the museum and other stuff. He was telling me some story about something, and when we were at around Mission Street and 14th or 15th street, he actually ran a red light - hence the nickname Red Light Runner. THANK GOD there were no cars coming when he did that. He didn't even notice that he had run the red. I was kind of freaking out a little, and so thankful that we didn't get hit or hit anything. It was getting more apparent that he was really nervous. So, we got to Luna Park, parked in one of the public garages, and walked over to the restaurant. Dinner was nice. Conversation was a little strained - several awkward silences. When the check came, I asked if I could contribute, and he said no, he'd take care of it. Points for that. Around 8pm or so, we had finished dinner and I was pretty much ready to go. So, I remember saying "Are you ready to blow this popsicle stand?" He said, "What? I don't get it." I said, "Are you ready to leave?" He said, "Oh. Yes, we can go." So, we walked to the garage. I paid for parking. I direct him on how to get back to my place. We were driving up Clipper, and he ran the 4-way stop sign at Clipper and Diamond. Again, he had no clue that he ran a stop. I was kind of flabbergasted. He ran 2 stopping apparatus on our first date. I guess he was just super, uber nervous. I was at a loss for another alternative explanation...
He dropped me off, helped me out of the car, walked me to my gate, gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Said he had a great time and would I like to get together again soon? I said I had a nice time, and that yes, I'd like to get together again. He asked me out for the next weekend, but that was the weekend before my move, and I knew I would have a lot of packing to get through. I asked for a rain-check for after the move, and he agreed. He then actually asked me out via email which was a little strange. Problem was, I didn't check email until Sunday evening, and he wanted to do something Sunday -day... I thought it a little curious that he didn't just call me to ask me out. Regardless, we were finding it a little difficult to make plans to hang out again.
We continued to exchange a few emails here and there, but nothing really materialized in terms of a 2nd date. I wasn't too torn up about it because I wasn't really sure I was interested in him romantically. He seemed to be a nice guy, but his nerves really got the best of him on our date.
A few weeks after my move, I was starting to feel more settled and available for dating again. I emailed him to say hi and see how he was doing. He responded about a week later, said he was well, working up a storm and pretty busy. We continued to stay in touch every week or so via email. Again, life got in the way of scheduling another date - I got sick, then had a business trip. Then he was busy, etc. We eventually fell out of touch mid-October.
Randomly, I got an email from him in January of this year. This is his email:
Hey there, do you remember me? It's been like years! :) Ok, not really but it feels like it. If you would like to hang out again, I'm up for it. I get so involved in my work, my personal projects, and my hobbies, that time just flies by - I apologize for not responding, even giving you a call (oh my gosh!). And I hope you don't think of me as a yuppie, cause I would do what I do for free - as long as I had shelter and food :) The last month I've been wanting to check out some Karaoke places, but my friends don't really do that (well, maybe if they were plastered). I think I told you I'm a secret Eagles fan, and people have told me I can sing. I wouldn't mind doing some Van Halen too :) Anyway, hope you had a great new year at your new place? Does it still feel new?
Cheers!
I couldn't completely tell if it was a spam email or a real email. The line about me thinking him a yuppie because he'd do what he does for free was random and kind of had me thinking it was spam. But then he made reference to my new place and how it was feeling. A spammer wouldn't know I had moved recently (or hopefully they wouldn't know that). I responded to him with:
Hi,
Happy New Year! Yes, I remember you. Technically it has been a year, although not a calendar year... Thanks for your note! Do anything fun and/or exciting for New Years and the holidays? I was with my family for about a week for Christmas, and then spent New Year's up here with friends. I was also in Monterey with my brother and his wife & kids for Turkey day. It's been fun. Today was my first day back at work. I had the last 2 weeks of the year off for vacation. Totally didn't want to go back to work today, but alas, I need a paycheck! Apartment is pretty much "there" though I still have some creative storage solutions to come up with, and some more stuff to donate to Goodwill. I find that I have 2 VCRs - who even uses them anymore? I'm keeping one, but need to get rid of the other, and somehow figure out how to transfer the few things I have left on tape to digital and I can get rid of the other VCR altogether! Yeay! How is work for you? Photography? Karaoke, eh? I'm not a big singer myself, but would watch you sing! Ha ha ha. Let me know what your schedule looks like and we can make some plans!
Ciao!
I never heard back from him... Very strange. I guess my lesson learned here - if a guy runs a red light and a stop-sign on a first date, maybe that is fate's way of intervening - telling you to stop? Who knows.
Moral of this story - don't run red lights or stop signs. It is illegal and can be very dangerous.
Until next time!
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