Photo Challenge: Wall

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Wall.”

This is a photo of my kitchen wall. I had insomnia one night – well, lately it’s every night – and I hung this poster of John Hughes’s film “Pretty in Pink.” Technically, I measured the space pretty well I thought, except I didn’t account for gravity and the bottom of the frame fell into the electric outlet, making it unusuable. I actually like the imperfection. It is symbolic of how I try to make things perfect and measured and think I am logical but then I’ll miss something really obvious. It was also like 3 a.m. and my cat was recovering in the hospital post-surgery on his stomach. So I was focusing on hanging this photo and it was a good distraction.

Best. date. ever.

YOU IMAGINE WHAT YOU DESIRE, YOU WILL WHAT YOU IMAGINE, AND THE LAST, YOU CREATE WHAT YOU WILL. George Bernard Shaw

Last night I had the best. date. ever. I went out with Paul (*not his real name) who I have known for a few months. Last week I thought perhaps a let’s-be-more-than-friends phase was happening. I did not see that coming at all.

Paul is my neighbor in my apartment building. Now, perhaps you are thinking Jill, you shouldn’t go on a date with your handsome neighbor. Ah, but you are wrong because it is especially convenient, for one thing.

Let’s rewind a bit, because there is a moment when Paul looked like more than a neighbor who I would have a stop-and-chat with (Seinfeld reference.) That occurred when Paul asked me if I could ever look in on his cats if he had some emergency. Of course, I said I would. I have cats and having a neighbor who could help in a pinch is invaluable. I asked would he do the same for me and he said he would. We then exchanged phone numbers and apartment numbers.

I don’t remember who called who first. It might have been me. It should be noted that I hate texting and love talking on the phone. Paul doesn’t have a smartphone. (He also doesn’t go online so he will not be reading this.) Anyway, he began calling me everyday several days in a row.

Fast-forward to yesterday when he asked me to go for a walk in our neighborhood. I needed some bananas and lollipops and Paul needed cigarettes. (Yes, unfortunately Paul is a smoker.) It was supposed to snow and there was that chill in the air without wind where you feel like it will snow soon.

We decided after completing our errands we would walk to Metropolitan Avenue. Paul and I walked and talked for about 20 minutes and ended up at Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins. Despite the chill I was craving an ice cream cone. Paul wanted to have some coffee. There was an empty table-for-two.

After we had our treats, Paul wanted to stop at Jackpot, a discount shop and browse a bit for some gloves as his were not warm enough. It is a great shop. I bought some slippers and earmuffs for a total of less than $10 and Paul bought nice warm gloves.

It got dark by the time we left Jackpot and we headed back to our building, where we chatted for a bit in my apartment before Paul went back to his.

I did not expect a couple of hours later for the phone to ring at 9 pm. It was Paul. Would I like to come up, he asked. I was watching a rerun of Big Bang Theory. I said yes.

I didn’t even change out of my new slippers and headed to Paul’s apartment. I could hear Neil Young playing on his CD player from in front of his front door. (I love Neil Young.) He answered the door and I sat on his sofa while he made some coffee. Coffee. At 9:30 p.m.

For five hours, we listened to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, The Allman Brothers, and Neil Young, talked about everything from past jobs to past heartbreaks, and also occasionally looked at the Australian Open which was on mute on the TV.

Somehow it was 2 a.m. and my eyes were unable to remain open for more than a few seconds. We decided it was time for me to go home. Paul said he would walk me home to my apartment.

When we arrived at my door, I unlocked my door but didn’t open it. I turned around and faced Paul and we both were just standing there for what seemed like eternity. I broke the silence. Come here, I said, and I kissed Paul lightly on the lips. He swooped his arms around me so fast and hard into a tight embrace during which I lost my balance. He kissed me back and then we parted. He said he’d call tomorrow and I said good-night and went into my apartment.

You know that amazing first kiss feeling – it is unlike anything else. I looked at myself in my bathroom mirror and I was glowing. I had no make-up on but I looked like I did. I floated around the apartment, got ready for bed and just couldn’t get myself to stop smiling.

Best. date. ever.

So, I don’t know what is down the road, but I’m optimistic. I have been patient. I have resisted online dating thinking I just maybe could somehow meet some in person, and I was not even looking to meet anyone. Time will tell if Paul and I will continue to date. I hope we will.

So, anyone have a great story they would like to share in the comments about a great first date? Please, share!