Disaster date at Portland Art Museum
After 22 years of being in a couple, to my horror, I find
myself single.
So, a date at the art museum sounded like a perfect way to break
the ice of dating again. I was using an online dating site (with photos) and
after a few texts and 2 longish phone calls, we set a date for the museum. The
phone calls went well, he seemed bright and “woke” to gender issues. He wasn’t
pushy and seemed concerned for my comfort on the date. He seemed like a great
person to explore a museum with.
On the appointed morning, I arrived and I was
disappointed that he looked like he had dressed for yard work and hadn’t brushed
his hair. But I am not overly hung up on looks so I let that slide. He made sure
to tell me that I would be buying my own ticket to the museum as we walked
towards the doors, I consider myself modern so I did so with no hesitation. It
caused me to think maybe he has money issues, after asking me out he didn’t
even offer to buy me a coffee.
Inside, he told me to pick where I wanted to go
and he would just go along with me. This could not have been farther from the
truth. He spent more time circling the
same paintings in the first room than I did. I understand wanting not to be
rushed, so I sat on a bench and waited for him to join me. It was nice soaking
up the art like that and I was not in a hurry at all. I was a bit put off that
he didn’t at least check in with me more often but I was still trying to be
open minded. When he finally joined me on the bench he acted like he didn’t
want to sit near me and the conversation dragged. What happened to the good
conversationalist person that I talked to on the phone?
Then the exhibit was
split on two floors, so I chose to take the elevator to favor my bad knee and instead
of accompanying me and talk about what we had seen, he choose to take the
stairs. Well, at this point there is no doubt, this is one of the worst dates I
have ever had. He seems completely disinterested in me as a person. A bright articulate person should be able to
enjoy a museum with another bright person even if they were not physically
attracted to them. But that was clearly not in his skill set.
Luckily, I got off on the wrong floor and
ended up in the impressionist section that I really enjoyed before finding my
way back to the main exhibit. He found
me as soon as I got off the elevator and asked where I was, I explained I got
lost and told him about the impressionists. He said, “Great, I am done with
this room and I will go there”. I agreed he should and off he went again. When I neared the end of the exhibit we were originally
looking at, he found me again and told me he was headed to another floor and
suggested I go to a different exhibit all together. I said "good idea".
I
finished that exhibit then I sat and enjoyed an iced tea on the outside porch
listening to random people play an outdoor piano. After I finished my drink, I
just walked to my car and left. I don’t believe he even noticed I was gone and
never even texted me to ask where I was. He told me often his dates were “one
and done” dates and that is why he didn’t want to meet me over coffee. I fully
understand that now. I left a message on the dating app telling him I hope he
finds what he is looking for but it was clearly not me.
/Block
So far, I don’t like modern dating.
