Unfortunate Lunch Date

A couple of weeks ago I found myself recounting to someone what it meant to date in Atlanta.

When you tell Nigerians that you lived in Atlanta for some odd years they expect you to have returned to Lagos with Usher or an Usher equivalent in your arm. Not so much. I recalled this incident below, one of my "unfortunate" dating escapades in that lovely city of Atlanta. Maybe I just ended up with the short end of the stick in my ATL dating life, or maybe I wasn't open enough to what the Universe had to offer, as open as I am now, either way, Sista had it rough as you can tell from the account below. Can't imagine any Lagos girl in all her glow-up glory having the patience to endure the below.

I went for an unfortunate lunch date this afternoon (February 5, 2009).

Unfortunate, because there are some dates you really shouldn't go on, but for the sake of all things humane, also known as trying not to congeal on the shelf, you try to let yourself out a bit. Not good. Because then you get put in situations that are pitiful and you're sitting there in all your despair wondering, surely I can do better. Can't I? 

I bumped into this guy, much older guy on Sunday. He forced me to give him my number (yes, there is such a thing as being forced to divulge your digits, Naija men have mastered this trick) and I did. Should not have! Promised not to give strange men on the street my number. Since then, he's been hounding me to be his girlfriend. From the first phone call, believe it or not. He doesn't even know who I am. He is a much older guy who's retired and lives on his pension with "grown kids". When did it come to this Lord? I am now "dating" men with grown children. Am I that old?

So back to the unfortunate date. I give the guy a chance to take me to lunch and he offers me Chick Fil A. Right then and there I should have known that was a bad idea. But, I went. He arrived. Not hungry. I am. I order the No. 1 meal. He pays for it and proceeds to count the exact change to the cashier. I just remember that vividly as I stood there thinking, has it come to this? Because he is a lot older, everyone stared at us. Like I was lunching with my daddy. I had to tell him point blank. I cannot date you because of your age. He was visibly upset. Why would he be visibly upset?

I enjoy the finer things of life. I love fine dining restaurants. When I am really in a good mood, or in the mood to put myself in a good mood, I dine in a 5 star restaurant. I actually have a list of them that I go to for different things: some for their wine selection, another for the delectable dessert, another just for the ambiance (just want to be enveloped by their opulence), food not so great but scenery is so extra, and then, some for the appetizer (maybe their calamari or crab cakes and only that, are to die for). Why, such a high flying, high taste having person like myself would meet someone that would want to take her to Chick Fil A, beats me. I simply do not know. And to think he would feel offended that I am not impressed or interested in him in any way whatsoever is beyond me.

If you need me I shall be on the shelf, congealing or dining at the nearest 5 star restaurant.