there was a time not long ago, i dreamt the world was flat

Several weeks ago, I went on my first date in quite a while. It was also my first successful date in a while - meaning I thought he was attractive, we had plenty of things in common, and the conversation was quite good. Our follow ups consisted mostly of emails and text messages and plans were made for date two. This was to be my first second date in some time. Then about two hours before the scheduled meet, I get text that because he's feeling sick, he won't be able to make it. I believe the words, "I'll need to take a raincheck" were typed at some point. Perhaps naively, I still choose to believe he was telling the truth. But there's a tiny little Doubting Thomas inside of me that thinks he knows better.

Since then, I made the decision that it's his call to ask me out for the make-up date. I consider it only fair since I made the plans which were aborted last minute. No need for me to reschedule a whole evening again unless I'm reasonably assured he's interested, right. There've been a few more emails, text messages, and one phone call (I'll admit it - I caved and called). But no requests for another outing. At this point, I'm filing this one in the "noble failures" category. I tried, I tried again, and I know better than to keep beating my head against the wall. I get it - either he isn't interested or he's just very slow about getting to know someone. Either way, I can read the signs well enough to note that this isn't going anywhere.

A few years ago, I was a lot stupider. Something like this would have devastated me. I'm too far along these days to sulk or chase someone down or wonder why they don't like me. Sure, I'd appreciate the heads-up ("Hey, I'm just not feeling it," would suffice for the record!) but I'm not going to whine about it. I'll just move on and hit on the next cute guy I meet in a bar. And then maybe his friend if that doesn't work out.

What? Give a boy a bell curve. I didn't say I'd learned all of my lessons.

J.