Fateful Accident

I'm not a big believer in fate, but I did have some reason to rethink this over the past week. I haven't really done any dating since moving out last October, aside from hanging out with some close female friends in date-like outings. But a couple weeks ago, I replied for only the second time to a post on www.craigslist.com, the San Diego version, and started a correspondence with a 33 year old divorcee named Nikki, an accupuncturist. Great sense of humor and things were going fine. I sent her a picture, she sent me hers, and while it wasn't that great, she seemed okay-looking. Hard to tell with sunglasses and the body not showing. Anyway, we arranged to meet at a bar/restaurant last Wednesday for dinner. I arrived on time, but I had forgotten to bring her cell number, so I was hoping she would call me or spot me, as I told her I would be wearing a dark red shirt. I sat alone at a table with a clear view of the door, left my name at the front, and took one tour around the place, but never did see her, and left after forty-five minutes. It's pretty uncomfortable and awkward to read a menu for that long, or try to watch a baseball game on a TV twenty yards away. When I got home and found her number, I called her, and everything was okay, because it was just our mutually stupid mistakes, not any cold feet or malice or anything. She did say that she was doing bong hits to cheer herself up, which was a bit of a red flag for me as far as a long term, get-to-know-my-kids relationship, but I'm not necessarily looking for that right now, anyway. Plus, it seemed like this missed date was actually beneficial, because she proposed I come over on Saturday night to her house, where she would cook for me. She told me "red wine is the fastest way to my heart", so naturally, I'm thinking that this first date could actually lead to something physical, right? Well, it didn't, and here's what happened.

I’m ten minutes from Nikki’s place, cruising along on the freeway. I’m in the fast lane, going about 80, and decide, hey, I should move over one lane. I do, at the perfect moment to run over something I never even saw, that makes a big THUD under my car. Turn down the radio, everything sounds okay, and it’s driving fine, so I continue. Soon, though, people are pointing at me. I pull off, and a guy parks behind me to tell me I have a huge gas leak, which I do. I exit on what is quite obviously one of the worst neighborhoods in San Diego, and soon enough find a tune-up shop. My car is literally leaving a trail of gas behind it. Mechanic can fix it, but they’re closed Sunday. Rather than risking driving it all the way home, I decide to leave it and call Nikki and figure things out later. She’s happy to pick me up, and uses her GPS to try to find rental car places, but they’re all closed by now. While I’m waiting a black guy in a Jaguar gets pulled over less than 100 yards away, and he’s still there when she arrives, so maybe he stole it, I dunno. She’s pretty heavy, by the way, but I’m willing enough, and in the back of my mind I’m kind of thinking she’ll just offer to let me stay and then take me to the rental place in the morning, whether there’s hanky panky or not. Presumptuous? Sure, but it just seemed somewhat logical, considering she was a free enough spirit to invite a near-stranger over for dinner at her place. Anyway, we actually had a nice time, just talking, drinking wine, and listening to music and some comedy on her XM radio. She has tons of mandalas in her place, btw, painted very nicely by her friend. Good taste, in fact, and it’s a very cool pad for being in not a great neighborhood. By about 11:00, she takes me to where the only rental places are open, by the airport, and gives me a hug and that’s it. She wasn’t pissed or anything, and in fact offered to help Monday if I needed anything, since I’d be in her area. She’s a sweetheart and I like her a lot, but there just wasn't that physical attraction on my part, and apparently not on hers, as she didn't make any overt moves or anything. I guess we'll just see if she tries to get a second date going or not. I did write her a moment ago to thank her again, but didn't say anything about a second date.

So, I’ve reported the claim, and hope to hear from the carrier Monday. Plus, coincidentally, I just realized I have a traffic court appointment for a rolling stop at a stop sign Monday as well, and I would much rather not have to go to that if I can handle things on the phone from work. As for the other stuff, I think I'd better date closer to my own neighborhood.