"Pick You Up and Hold Your Hand"

It's been awhile since I've had a "real" date, but tonight I had one. The "pick you up - hold your hand" type of date! It was exactly what it should have been.

Typically when I go out with a guy, I'll meet him at the bar/restaurant so that I have some control over the situation... especially when it comes to my privacy and safety about where I live. But tonight was different. I've known this guy for a couple months. He sings in the choir with me at church, and about two weeks ago I found myself noticing him more and becoming a little smitten. I went to Disneyland last Saturday and invited him on a whim, not thinking he'd actually agree to come! Well, it all started there at Disneyland... the happiest place on earth! By the end of the night, he was holding my hand.... and as cheesy as it sounds, on the "It's A Small World" ride, he had his arm around me and pulled me in closer to him. We exchanged numbers as he said goodbye and about 30 min. later he texted me saying we should do something again sometime. Of course I was smiling....

I saw him the next day at church and again at Tuesday night rehearsal. Wednesday, he asked if he could take me out tonight! I offered to meet him somewhere since he lives on the beach and I'm a little more inland, but he wanted to pick me up. Something inside me trusted him to allow him into my "domain."

He was early, which was fine, because I was ready (surprise, I know!). Picked me up in his Lexus (uh, HELLO!) and took me to the restaurant. I typically am not a "dinner and a movie" type girl, because I really think that seeing a movie on a first date is kinda pointless since you're really not talking to the person or getting to know them in any way. But this was nice. We laughed and talked for a good hour and a half or so at dinner and then walked down to the movie theatre.

We went to see "X-Men" and although I didn't have a clue as to what was going on, it was a good movie. (I hadn't seen any of the other X-Men movies nor had read the comics.) Before the movie begins, you know there's always previews. Well, since 6-6-06 is coming up this Tuesday, all of the previews were of scary movies. Call me a girl, but I was jumping and hiding my eyes at the previews! LOL! He reached over and pulled me into him closer. Aaaww! Later through the actual movie, he reached over and pulled my hand into his and interlocked his fingers with mine. And there they stayed for the rest of the movie as his other hand covered the top of mine.

* As a side note - stay until the very, very end of the movie.... after the credits... because there's a brief part that they show that will have to do with the next X-Men movie.

He drove me back to my place and offered to walk me to my door. I hadn't picked up my place prior, otherwise I would have invited him in, so he politely hugged me goodbye and that's how it ended. Naturally, I was nervous about if he was gonna try to kiss me or not, and it was more than appropriate for us to end it the way we did. As I sit here typing this out, I wonder in my head if I would have kissed him had he tried. Probably. But I'm not sure. Hmm.... anyway, it leaves him wanting more!

So for the first time in a long time, I was courted by someone who was actually interested in being a gentleman. Time will tell if his actions will match his words. That's typically the problem I have with men these days. They talk a big game, but they can't match it with their actions. Actions are huge to me, because it gives me a glimpse into your character. It shows me whether you hold true to your word, whether your dependable, honest, caring, and respectable. With most men, I've learned to enjoy it for the moment, because you never know when the moment is going to end. Sad but true. Some moments I'm glad have ended, but others I wish wouldn't.

Anyway, here's to another "first date"!! (I'm so tired of first dates by the way! They are all so predictable!)