Dating Diaries: An Awkward Moment

“Oh, sh**!”

I work in an open office environment so pretty much every head turned my way. I sat at my desk, staring down at my phone in horror. I looked up to see everyone’s quizzical stares and started laughing. Sometimes it’s the only thing you can do.

5 Minutes Earlier

A box of beautifully decorated chocolate-covered strawberries was delivered to my desk. There was no note, but I’d been dating someone for a couple months so I had no doubt whom the gift was from.

I shot him a text: “You’re the best! I love chocolate-covered strawberries.”

And the inevitable reply: “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

In case you’ve never been there, receiving a text such as this is not a happy feeling.

I texted back: “Are you being serious?”

Him: “Yes. I assume someone sent you strawberries, huh?”

I’m a writer and I can tell you, there simply is no good answer to that question.

Luckily, the guy I was dating took it in stride. As for the strawberries, I racked my brain and asked a few people but could never figure out who sent them. It wasn’t until months later the person—a guy I’d dated some time before, briefly, before it ended badly—had sent them.

Awkward dating moments. You’ve got to love them.

Cheers,

Dena

50 Years and Counting

I have coffee every morning at my gym with a group of retirees.  Last week, one of them mentioned he was taking his wife out to dinner to celebrate 55 years of marriage.

“Aw, you’re just a kid,” said another. “My wife and I are celebrating 62 years this August.”

“I’m getting close to celebrating 50 years myself,” said another.

There was silence as the group, who’ve known each other for years, exchanged puzzled looks. 

“Well, I mean, 50 years if you count them all up consecutively,” said the guy.

 I cracked up. Turns out he’s been married four times. “Just so you know,” I said, “That 50 years doesn’t count.”

“Time served is time served,” he said.

I love morning coffees.

Cheers,

Dena

As Heard On the Mountain

Blair and I were texting this weekend, talking about vacations. I’ve been contemplating various itineraries and although I haven’t said anything to anyone,  a visit to Machu Picchu is near the top of my list. So it didn’t surprise me at all that Blair and I ended up having this text conversation:

Blair Harris: I'm contemplating Machu Picchu in October.

Dena Harris: OMG  - Machu Picchu is one of the places I was looking at with Road Scholar. I would crack up if we bumped into each other there.

Blair Harris: Wow.

Dena Harris: “Sooo… Hi, Blair.” (As heard on the mountain.)

Blair Harris: You're funny.

Dena Harris: “Hi Dena. F--k.” (As also heard on the mountain.)

If it would happen to anyone, it would happen to us.

Cheers,

Dena