Last night I got exactly the date I prepared for- relaxed, unbothered, and extraordinarily fun. The place we went to is called Tryst, and is famous in DC because that’s where Gary Condit used to take Chandra Levy. Although I don’t know why. It screams “gay bar” to me. I think that’s because there were so many women in comfortable shoes.
She was funny and charming. She asked about my writing and I showed her the post “Lack of Authenticity” (“Here… this one’s about you.”). She was touched and when she got to the part where I said that I was from northeast Texas, she said she was from Dallas and had taught in Houston (she’s a school librarian). She is also a writer, a poet. I can’t wait to read her stuff.
She said, “I love strong women,” and my nonbinary ass was like, “where are they?”
I know the type she’s looking for, and her name is Carolyn Martens.
I’m not Carolyn. But we’ve met.
I liked having a companion walking with me through Adams Morgan. Remember how I said a vibe check was only an hour? We spent almost three, just talking about anything and everything.
But it was a different texture of conversation. It was about life and love, not instant bond through oversharing. She loves to travel. She is currently researching the Nordic countries because she asked me where I wanted to go. Not in terms of jumping the gun and coming with me. I got her interested in the Finnish educational system.
It’s Disneyland for introverts.
My Finnish readers have thought of smiling, and want me to know that they thought about it.
How do you tell a Finnish extrovert?
They look at your shoes when they talk.
I hope one day I’ll get to bring her to meet my favorite Finnish-Americans. Some of them are even human.
The biggest risk I took was showing up, determined to have a good time whether she did or not. She met me at altitude and the night went by way too quickly. Looking forward to more in this same relaxed direction.
The line I’ve been telling my friends and now you too is that “she’s from Dallas and I like her anyway.”
Stories That Are All True 