My second date with Mr. Normal or MN (as I’ll call him) was something I was excited to experience. He suggested we meet for dinner and then take it from there.

He initially chose Ward III in TriBeCa but I arrived a few minutes early and it was insanely crowded. “No problem,” he said, calmly. He had somewhere else we could go.

We walked to The Odeon and I had a chance to check him out. He had style and I loved his casual, yet sophisticated clothes. He also had a seriously hot body.

Dinner at The Odeon was great. I ordered the salmon and heirloom tomato salad. MN had steak. The bartender made fresh lemonade for my summer cocktail of choice—vodka, soda, and a generous splash. The conversation was easy. MN was charming, funny and very, very interesting. He’s had a big life. If I were to tell you what he did for a living it would probably be easy to identify him with a quick Google search–I’d never do that, but it’s impressive. He’s also deep. He took the time to figure out the things about himself that needed changing, and then actually did it.

I went to the ladies room and he stood as I left the table. As I returned he stood again.

I wish more men understood what a turn on it is when they have manners.

After dinner he suggested we head to a bar called the Raccoon Lodge. Walking towards the place he gave me his arm as we strolled.

I love a good dive bar and this one was the perfect amount of gritty. MN asked if I would like to shoot a game of pool. I haven’t played since college and even then I was horrible, but it was fun and he didn’t make me feel like an idiot. He lined up the shots for me so it would be almost impossible to miss—I missed many.

On separate occasions two drunken guys tried to get in on our game. One, I swear, was attempting to hit on me, as only the delusional by intoxication would. It made me nervous, but MN calmly and quietly handled the situation. I have no idea what he told each of them in a low voice, but they skulked off.

He was swagger-licious.

We had lots of fun playing pool. He made me laugh—told me he was enjoying the view as I leaned across the table, my backside prominent.

We transitioned from pool to Ms. Pac-Man. Oh yeah, now we’re talking.

That’s right, I rocked it.

Hold your quarters, bitches! You’ll be waiting a long time. 

I forgot how fun it was and if my apartment were bigger I’d be tempted to have my own game. (I’m actually looking around as I type this trying to figure it out).

Eventually, MN drove me home (he lives in Weehawken–but I’m widening my options) and we decided we would like to see each other again. It was a great date. The best I’ve been on–by a mile–since starting the blog.

I sent him a text that night:

I had such a good time tonight. Thanks for that.

He responded:

You give good second date, Melani

I bet you’re thinking I should pull my profile off the dating site and roll around in the joy of meeting this amazing guy, right?

Seems like the appropriate action, but I haven’t told you one important detail.

After our first date, MN told me he was actually ten years older than his profile stated. He’s not fifty-three, but sixty-three years old.

He said he’s always dated younger women because he doesn’t look or act his age. I had to agree with him. I would’ve never guessed. He also said that I wouldn’t have given him a second look if he had his true age on his profile.

He was absolutely right.

It’s strange because I’m not bothered by the lie. I’ve now been on two dates with him and he’s truly decent. He’s told me things about himself that are very revealing—he’s an honest man. But as you know if you’ve been following this blog, I want to be with someone my own age. Perhaps this is irrational but after what I’ve been through I want to narrow my chances of being the one left behind, again.  I also want my aging process to be in sync with the person I’m with.

BUT, in reality, nothing is guaranteed. Death happens when it happens and age isn’t always the determining factor. MN isn’t in the age range I hoped for, but he has so many other attributes that I want, I’ve decided to let it ride. Take it one great meeting at a time. Continue to date others, but see where this goes. I’m having lots of fun.

Fun can never be a bad thing.

“It’s the game of life. Do I win or do I lose? One day they’re gonna shut the game down. I gotta have as much fun and go around the board as many times as I can before it’s my turn to leave.” Tupac Shakur