ExposedNYC

Okay, so I knew that my friend Laura was eager to play matchmaker, but I had no idea how far she would go- over 1,000 miles! She and her husband have a good friend “Louie” who grew up in Long Island with them and moved to Florida. She has always wanted him to settle down with someone she liked, and even set him up with her sister at one point.

Now, I consider myself a fairly reasonable person, so when she mentioned him to me the other day, I pointed out the obvious. How am I supposed to date someone who lives in another state? She insisted that he travels through town all the time for work, and meeting the right woman might be just the inspiration he needs to move back (no pressure, right?). So, she asked if she could mention me to him, and see what he thought. I agreed to play along, thinking she was a hopeless romantic and nothing would come of it.

Apparently, I was wrong. I got a voice mail from him tonight just saying hello and leaving his number if I wanted to chat sometime. He’s got a great voice (I’m a sucker for an accent), and I immediately called Laura to grill her for details. She informed me that they had a long conversation about me, and that he’s excited for us to meet the next time I’m in town. He’s tired of the materialistic women he meets down there who he says are all about dating his wallet, not him.

So, I started to think about it, and this might be an intriguing situation. Let’s say we do hit it off, because what would it hurt to be optimistic? I have a great excuse to fly to Florida, which I constantly see cheap flight deals for, and enjoy some sunny weather. I wouldn’t have to worry about being too busy to devote enough time to the relationship. I could just consider it like a vacation anytime he came to town. And, I already have an ideal couple to double date with. This could actually be fun!

Of course, I’m getting way ahead of myself here. I haven’t even called him back yet, because I got the message as I was leaving a movie theater, and it was later than an appropriate time to call someone I’ve never even met. I have no idea the next time he’ll be in town, and don’t even know if we’ll be able to hold a conversation without the dreaded awkward pauses that find a way to slip their way into conversations when I get nervous.

But, just for tonight I’m going to hold on to possibility. My dream living arrangement includes six months on each coast, alternating every season (winters and summers out here are a little harsh for my taste). Who better to fit into that crazy picture than someone who travels for a living? I’ve heard crazier stories, and a girl can dream, right?

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