I've Seen This Show Before
I hate reruns, especially when I am the star of the show.
At Duke Island Park on Friday afternoon, I sat on a bench and watched the river. Suddenly, a dog appeared to my left, followed by a woman holding the leash.
“Why, hello,” I said to the dog then lowered my hand for him to sniff.
The woman was pretty, blond hair and wore a hat with sunglasses, all dressed in black (no little black dress, more T-shirt and jeans).
I stood up and introduced myself and asked her name, and the name of her dog. I asked her the breed of her dog, she told me and I promptly forgot. To be honest, I asked her a few more times, and for the life of me I still can’t remember.
But I knew there was some poodle in there somewhere, I swear.
After a few pleasantries, I asked if I could walk with her for a while.
She said yes, and we were on our way.
On the trail learned she was retired, this was her nieces’ dog whose birthday was on Halloween (the dog’s birthday, not the niece’s).
“He’s a Scorpio, just like me,” I said, then added, “we’re the best!”
(a little self-promotion couldn’t hurt)
Asked if she ever walked to the waterfall, she said yes, and in fact was parked up that way.
We headed toward the waterfall.
On the way we talked to two women on a bench who commented on her dog.
One woman looked at me and asked, “What breed is he?”
I shrugged and pointed to my new friend.
She named the breeds again (and still I don’t remember).
The dog led us down a path to the river’s edge, but he stayed far from the water.
All the while we talked, and laughed, with a few of those awkward moments of silence people experience that have absolutely no shared history.
We reached the waterfall with maybe another hundred yards to her car.
This was the gauntlet, the will-they-or-won’t they moment.
I have been in this situation before and it’s always a gamble.
There was no ring on her finger, so I took a chance when we reacher her car if she would like to get together for a drink or coffee?
“Why, thank you,” she paused for a second, then added”, “but I have a boyfriend.”
Of course you do.
“Well,” I said, “I just had to ask.”
A year or so ago I met a woman with her dog in this same park. That ended differently, but somehow it ended the same.
I wish the universe would change the script, because I have seen this show before and I don’t like how this story ends.
We talked for a few more minutes, then...
I’ve been told by people I should not tell any potential dates about my blog (until they got to know me better). However, since this woman had a boyfriend, I handed her my card.
She looked at my name.
“Oh,” she asked, “like Dom DeLuise?”
Yes, then told her this story, and she laughed.
We said our goodbyes. Then added I hoped to see her again in the park, and wished her dog a Happy Birthday if I didn’t see them again before Halloween.
Turns out, I walked about three miles to be turned down for a date (at least I got in my steps).
Normally that would be the last line of the post, but since I gave her my card this is a very slight chance that she might read this post. I did not include her, or her dog’s, names because she did not know I was going to write this.
However, if she does read this, I want her to know this is the classic case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’.
I want her to know that our meeting in the park was a pleasant surprise and I enjoyed our walk and talk.
Also, that I would love to walk again without the burden of a first date hanging over my head.
And, like most dogs I have met in this park, your dog is a very, very good boy.
Like the saying goes, the show must go on…
...again.
