Dating: Alumni Associations, Part 3

Here’s a tip: If you have plans to see someone you are anxious to see, texting them beforehand will not speed the meeting’s arrival.

I pull myself together after saying a silent prayer for the injured dog,  and I get ready to go. The process is slowed down by texts with traffic updates; I let him know I’m running late.

I’m finally in the car and text: I’m on my way.

He’s already there and texts that. He texts me where he’s sitting at the bar. He texts me where he found free parking nearby. He texts me they have a great wine list. He texts me that he ordered beer anyway. He texts me to ask if he should order a drink so that it’s waiting for me.

This is all very nice, but it’s illegal to text while driving in this state, so I’m not even replying except for the occasional “k” when I’m at a stoplight.

I hit downtown, close to where we’re meeting, and try to find his text about the parking. I think I’m following the directions, and find myself passing the bar, circling the block, and then sent off in the opposite direction of where I want to be. I’m in the center of town, where all the traffic is.

Also, it’s snowing. Except it isn’t snowing. It’s not cold enough for snow.

I’m stopped in motionless traffic now, looking at fake snow swirling around my car. So is everyone else, so it’s impossible to do anything else.

Then I hear the thump of music: Loud, rockin’ Christmas music being blasted into the street. There are holiday lights everywhere, and big displays on the sidewalks on which guys dressed as Nutcrackers are dancing enthusiastically. In the swirling fake snow.

Throngs of pedestrians gather to watch the spectacle.

I drive further and further away from my destination. It’s the only way the traffic will let me go.