I did an interview with Jancee Dunn that is on BC.
Before there were online dating services there were personals. Around 1986, I put one in as I had broken up with my fiancee and didn’t seem to be able to meet anybody I wanted to date.
I was a bit too impressed with myself and I guess the personal reflected that. Don’t remember what I said but I got around 250 responses and only 30 were from prisoners.
It was overwhelming. The Blenderbusters read through them and we decided who I should answer.
I went on a couple of dates with a man who seemed perfect on paper. He was a certified social worker who had gone into the family business and owned a small but very upscale chain of stores
We had two decent dates. Then he went skiing. He called me from his ski trip and said he was coming home early so we could have our third date. I was big on the third date rule, unless I was overwhelmed with lust.
It was very cold and I wore a denim mini, huge sweater, black fishnet stockings with black nylon in back of the fish nets, hand painted Converse high tops and my nutria–Louisiana swamp rat–coat. My hair was big and red, I wore ear muffs as no hat fit my head or my look. I think I was going through a too much make-up stage.
It was just before the advent of multiplexes and we had to wait about an hour outdoors to see the new Woody Allen film. I can’t remember which film but do remember that it was on Second Avenue. After the film we were supposed to go to Sign of the Dove, a pricey nice restaurant.
Alan, don’t remember his name, had a cold. He should have canceled the date, but…
Not only didn’t he use a tissue, but snot was coming out of his nose for the entire time we were waiting. I kept handing him tissues, but somehow he didn’t seem to realize….
We never made it to Sign of Dove nor did he make it to my apartment. I made some lame excuse, and went home determined to never see him again.
A few days later I got a letter from him. He was “breaking up” with me. Something about me had made him up his therapy sessions from ten hours a week to fifteen.
He broke up with me? We didn’t even have a relationship, and I did the breaking up unless I forced fights something I excelled at.
I threw out all the letters. Dating from personal ads was just too much work.
I will be away for a bit more than two weeks and might or might not post again. i feel so stupid not being able to keep to a schedule when I don’t have six kids, or anything like that. Just a book I’m desperately trying to get together. It’s hard because it’s on the teenage me, and I want to be true to who I was without sounding preachy. It’s hard to dredge up the feelings without becoming immersed in them. I so envy people who can redo their blog posts for their book, but this isn’t a bloggy book.
First, a few fashion questions:
Hand painted Converse high tops? Please elaborate.
And you had a nutria coat? All you needed was a sable hat to go with it.
Secondly, this post is filled with hilarious lines:
I think I was going through a too much make-up stage.
I kept handing him tissues, but somehow he didn’t seem to realize
I would have paid to see that. As long as I wasn’t facing him directly, I guess 🙂
Hope you’re having fun in North Myrtle.
Take time off, but thanks for writing “I was a bit too impressed with myself and I guess the personal reflected that. Don’t remember what I said but I got around 250 responses and only 30 were from prisoners,” before you left.
dear Pia,
I’m afraid I’m going to have to break it off, my dear.
I know the many long nights we didn’t spend together will mean as much to you as they do to me and my dogs.
love always, charles
My Dearest of all PIA,
My wife sez I have to break up with you, but, couldn’t we just see each other on the sly?
Your’s truly,
Fred
OK, OK, so I be a goof, sometimes.
No doubt, though, I can top THAT dating experience.
It’s been a long time since m’ex tossed me out. She had no reason, so, I never went into trying t’date.
Recently, though, after my daughter graduated from high school, she started getting a bit more friendly. However, it was painfully obvious that she was indeed, done with me.
OK, so, off to my favorite place to be…any restaraunt that doesn’t get cheap with the coffee.
This time it was a Bob Evans.
I’m sitting there enjoying m’coffee when the waitress comes over and starts reading over my shoulder what I’m writing.
We start conversing and things are starting to sound like an evening is called for.
Nothing serious, mind you. Call it an exploratory on both our behalfs.
Then she tells me how old she is.
Right away my brain screams at the top of its brain level to shut up! DON’T SAY IT! NO !
“Gee, ” I casually drop in all during this brain screaming, “I’m three times that age….”
Why didn’t I just take my teeth out and lay them on the table? It would have done as well t’get her t’scamper off…..
Meanwhile my brain sez, “see?! I told you so!”
This made me laugh. I so totally get that a guy with snot running down his nose would not be for you…
i came here and put in the wrong address and the blog didn’t show up..my heart started racing…
Ah, how do you tell a stranger they need to wipe? lol yes, no 3rd date, indeed. I think you got lucky there.
🙂 Enjoy your writing, there are people here who can’t wait to read it!
So Pia gives out tissues on the third date. I think I read that somewhere else on the internet already.
Ah the personals, well been there done that and was pretty interesting if I must say so. Met a lot of great people but not my Mr Right. Of course, I always wend up with Mr Wrong anyhow so not sure why I think I missed out, lol.
On another note, online daters beware. Some time ago I tried Yahoo personals for a 7-day free trial. Created a profile and never even went back to the site. Now, it has come back to haunt me. Evidently someone is taking legal action against Yahoo and I recentl received a notice that I was NOW involved in that Class Action Lawsuit as well against Yahoo. I was SHOCKED to know these attorneys for the plaintiff had gotten access to my personal info and HOME address. The letter stated I must contact them if I did NOT want to be part of the lawsuit. Oh geeeez, I definitely do not want involved. 🙁
Ms Pia, I sure missed you while I was away!
Firstly – Shanah Tovah and all the best for the year ahead. Secondly, a book is just as valid a reason to be away as 6 kids so don’t feel silly about that.
Loved this post, totally felt the whole misery of the evening – even picturing which theatre you went to. Good luck in your writing!