Dating Was So Much Easier In High School

Way back when I was in high school, I would either date a guy until I got bored of him, or until he cheated on me.   They were all short relationships, frankly, I don't think any of them lasted more than 2 or 3 months.  When they ended, I wouldn't take long to move on to my next crush.

That was then.

I got married less than 2 years after I graduated high school.  In that in between time, I only had relationships with 3 guys.

The first one was Mike. 

He would totally make me laugh at church dances, with his moves.  I thought he was joking around, and then I found out he was serious about his moves.  He really thought he was a good dancer, but honestly if I tried to describe his moves, well these guys come to mind. 

We didn't date very long at all, probably, like my previous relationships,

only about 2 months or so.

Second was Brian.  I thought he was "the one".  We never discussed it,

but, I just KNEW we were going to get married.  I started dating him

pretty soon after he returned from his mission.  We dated on and off for about 4 months.  Well, I was always "on", it was him who couldn't make up his mind.  But I was patient and waited.   Like I said, I just knew we would end up together.  Then, he got accepted to BYU.  So, in my mind, I was going to move up to Utah, move in with some family, so we could be together while he went to school.  He had different plans, cause he broke up with me months before he was even suppose to leave,  I was devastated.  I thought my world was going to end.

4 days later, the man that I ended up with for the next 13/14 years, asked me out for our first date.

Fast forward to now...

Since my divorce, I have had

-1 NCMO ( Non Committal Make Out)

-2 First Dates Only

and

-1 Boyfriend of 3 months

A bunch of my friends referred to my boyfriend as, The Chad.  I think it was my friend, Sarah, who started it, and it caught on.  Even my kids started calling him that.  My phone would ring, (poor guy, I set his ring tone to Sexy And I Know It, by LMFAO) and my kids would yell "It's The Chad!"  and start giggling like crazy.

I met him online, we emailed for about a week, and then one night he mentioned that he would like to take me out sometime. I gave him my number and then we started talking on the phone.  We talked for about a week before we went on our first date, (which is a whole other story or blog entry in it's self.)  We both had a mind set, that we just wanted to meet someone to date, and have fun with, NOT to have an actual relationship.  But, it didn't happen that way.  In the beginning, I had opportunities to date other people, but I only wanted to spend time with him.  We lived over an hour away from each other, and gas is stinking expensive, but to spend time with him, was well worth the sacrifice. 

I loved spending time with him.  I loved spending time with his kids.  I loved when we would get together with all 7 of our kids.  We would have so much fun, all 9 of us.  I  never knew that I wanted a big family... but those were some of my favorite moments with him...bobbing for apples, watching the kids play at the park, going out to eat and getting tons of nosey people staring at us and asking random dumb questions, and playing keep-away in the front yard.  

And I loved kissing him.  Let me take a second to daydream about that .... ... ... ...... and I'm back.  Even 3 months in, one of the last times I kissed him, my heart started racing and I got butterflies in my stomach.  I loved to just melt in his arms and have him hold me.

So you are probably wanting to know why it ended, with so much that was right, what went wrong.  Well, here's where dating (grown up dating) gets complicated, when it boiled down to it, we just had different goals.  Different directions that we wanted to to take our lives in.  Because of those different end goals, I knew that we would probably not end up getting married later on down the line.  Unless, that is, if one of us was willing to change, and we are both set in our ways.  It is not fair to be in a relationship where someone is hoping the other will change.  It was so hard for me to accept this.  I fought it for a long time, telling myself that we could make it work.   But I had to be honest and realise that our goals were just to different.  I have never broken off a relationship with someone that I stilled adored.  It broke my heart.  But I knew that I would only get more attached if I didn't.

It's only been a few days, since I broke it off.  And yes, I am sad, but I have been through much worse heartache over the past 2 years.  I will be fine and move on.  And I promise to continue to share my experiences along the way.

The Chad and Me

The First Kiss....

I was so nervous for my first kiss.  We had talked about where it would happen, when it would happen and what would happen.  I daydreamed about every little detail.  What time of day it would be, what I would be wearing, what his cologne would smell like.... even what kind of gum I would be chewing.  I dreamed about him wrapping his arms around me, pulling me in to make me feel safe, his lips touching mine, and how I would just melt, and my knees would buckle and he would have to hold me up.

Funny.... this is just as true now as it was when I got my first kiss at age 12.

Imagine waving lines appearing as we head into flashback mode....

He was my "boyfriend", but at age 12... all that really means is.... ummmm... I still don't know.  He had been trying to get me to kiss him for awhile, but, I was so stinking nervous.  From what I knew... he had already kissed at least one girl, so he had "experience"!   Plus, this guy was 8 days older then me!  (Seriously folks... at age 12.... how much experience can one guy have?)  I was worried that I wouldn't be good at kissing.  I tried kissing my hand, but my hand couldn't tell me if I was doing something wrong.  I kissed the guys on my New Kids On The Block poster, all but Danny, that is, and it didn't seem to complain, but still, this was a BIG deal.

Finally, he made a deal with me.  He played baseball.  He said that if he won the next game, I had to kiss him.  I agreed.  My dad took me to watch his game.  He pitched that night, and yes, his team won.  After the game, I went over to give him a hug (soooo wasn't gonna kiss him in front of my dad), but just as I went to reach out to him, my dad's arm swooped over my shoulder and we were walking away, towards the car.  I do believe that is the ONLY time my dad ever walked with his arm around me.

The next day we planned on meeting at the high school, which was in the middle of our houses.  We rode bikes and met each other in the middle of the quad.  I was wearing a new outfit from Wet Seal, (totally in at the time.)  We parked our bikes and smiled at each other.  I sat down on a bench next to him.  He leaned into me, and kissed my lips.  I just kinda... put my lips there and made a smooch sound.  That was soooooo not the kind of kiss he had in mind!  "Open your mouth!" he said.  I just started laughing... I just couldn't do it.  The thought of his tongue in my mouth, horrified me! 

The next series of events go down as the worst kiss EVER... but the BEST first kiss story ever.

He grabbed my face, and began to lick it from top to bottom, the whole time telling me that he wasn't going to stop, until I opened my mouth.  As if I wasn't grossed out enough before... just the thought of it now...*GAG*!!!!!!   This lasted for what seemed like hours, but was actually more like 30 seconds... still that is a long time to lick someones face! (again.... gagging, literally!)  Then when I couldn't take it anymore, I gave up and opened my mouth.  He jammed his tongue in, and .... I bit down as hard as I could!   That's right! It hurt him pretty bad, awwwww, too bad, sooo sad!   But then I did feel bad, so after a his tongue stopped pulsing..I gave it a try.    He stuck his tongue back in (brave guy), and we had a few minutes of tongue swirling action.  VERY SLOPPY!

When it was over, I rode my bike home.  I went and looked in the mirror to see if I looked different... I was so scared my mom would be able to look at me and KNOW that I kissed a boy.  But she didn't.


My first post-divorce kiss, was nothing like that, THANK HEAVENS!  It was AMAZING.  Everything that I dreamed it would be!  And that's all I'm gonna say about that!

Now This Guy Had Smooth Moves... Ummmmm NO!

For about 2 months or so, there  has been this guy, *Tom, sending me e-mails, maybe once every other week or so.  I have tried to be polite and respond , but the honest truth is I have ZERO interest in this guy.  Here is the #1 reason why,- in his profile picture, it shows he is a firefighter.  HELLO!    RED FLAG!   So, finally I responded to his e-mail and told him that basically I am not very fond of firefighters, because my ex was the typical stereotype, and I was burned bad.

He responds back with -"What is the stereo type, Pioneer or Sony?"
Me - " Well, he ain't no "pioneer" if you know what I mean."
Tom- "No, I don't know what you mean."

And then I left it alone, thinking that it was understood that I wasn't interested.
Ummmm, no... I guess it wasn't, because, towards the end of last week, I got another e-mail from him saying that he was going to be in my part of town the coming up week. (Oh yeah, he lives like 7 hours away.)  He wanted to know if I wanted to go on a date.
I didn't. 
1- I refuse to ever get involved with another firefighter.
2-I know nothing about him.
3- His pictures on linkup, didn't really show what he looks like.  That may sound shallow.... but it's honest!

So , of course you can guess how I responded, right?  NO! WRONG!
I said, "I'm game."  
(WHAT THE HELL!  What is wrong with me? )
Then I said - "Since I know nothing about you, it has to be during the day, in public, with a lot of other people around.  I don't want the next days headlines in the newspaper to read 'WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN DESERT AFTER MEETING GUY FROM ONLINE'.

He then proceeds to tell me that he just had surgery on his ankle and can't walk or put any pressure on it.  So maybe we could go to the movies. 

THE MOVIES?  REALLY?

I gave him my phone number so he could call me.  He did the next day.  He asked what movie I wanted to see, and he named some kid movie, I said no, thinking he was kidding.  Then he asked if I wanted to see The Smurfs.   (Is this guy for real?)  I politely said no.  Then he suggested Planet Of the Apes.   I agreed.  He suggested that we meet at the theater at 10:45 and said I would know who he was because he would be the guy on crutches.

I showed up at the theater at 10:40, and went to go stand out front.  It was only 108 degrees.  (Yes, I did say ONLY, hahaha.) 
Since he couldn't put any pressure on his ankle and drive, I kept watch for a car to pull up to the curb and drop him off.  It had to be senior citizen day at the movies, because, I watched car after car pull up to the curb and someone would slowly start to get out of the car, I would see a cane emerge and think that it would be him.. But, car after car, it was just little old ladies getting dropped off by their old man.

At 11:00 I realized that I probably got stood up.  (And I was kind of OK with that.)  Then a few minutes later, I got a text message from him.  He said he was on his way and that he was slow with only one leg.

I waited for another 17 minutes before he finally arrived.  When I had talked to him on the phone, I thought to myself that he sounded old and redneck-ish.  And yep, he looked old and redneck-ish. And he had a  Holk Hogan style mustache.

But I was friendly and smiled and introduced myself.  As he hobbled over to the window to the buy the movie tickets, I noticed, he had TONS of butt sweat!  EWWWWWW GROSSSS! I tried really hard not to look in that general direction anymore.  I tried to remind myself that this is Arizona.... but I was still grossed out.                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                      

      Then we went in and he hobbled over to the concession stand, and pulled out 2 refillable movie theater cups out of his backpack.  I hope I don't need to explain to you why that was weird... cause it just was.

Then we went into the theater and watched the movie.  Mostly we were silent, except one comment that he made....  Let me remind you, we were watching a SciFi movie, where Apes talk and take over the world...   So, there's this part in the movie, where they take the ape to the redwoods so he can climb trees, and *Tom says, "That tree is too smooth, there's no way he would be able to climb up it."                REALLY TOM?  Really?   

When the movie was over, we rinsed out his cups and I put them back into his backpack for him.

He then asked if I wanted to get lunch, I told him we could, but that I had to leave in 50 minutes to pick up my kids.  FYI, this was not new information to him.  I had already told him what time I had to pick up my kids the day before.  Something then occurred to me.... How was he getting home?  So I asked.  He said "Could you give me a ride home?"    Ummmm, Hello McFly... when did you plan on mentioning this to me... is what I wanted to say.  But instead I asked him where it was I would be taking him.  When he told me the address, well there was just no way I would make it to pick up my kids on time.  I told him that wouldn't work.  He said he would call someone and that we could go eat.  So he climbed in my car, he wanted to sit in the back, but the car seat was in the way, haha! 

We went to http://www.heidisbrooklyndeli.com/, and had really yummy sandwich's.  For the most part, lunch went by smooth, except one thing... we were sitting in a booth across from one another, and he propped his casted foot up next to me in the booth.  I was trapped by his foot!

By the time lunch was over, no one had gotten back to him about picking him up, and so, I dropped him off... at his grandpa's house.

And that my friends, will be the last time you read about sweaty butt Tom.



Glutton For Punishment!

What the hell is wrong with me?  Didn't I just say, that I was never going to another LDS mid-singles dance?

So, I was sitting at home last night by myself, my ex had the kids, and I was bored to death.  I started going stir crazy.  I promised myself that I would never sit at home, on a night my kids are gone.  But, seriously, I had nothing to do, and no one to do anything with.  The thought entered my mind, "Just go to the dance... what's the worst thing that could happen... if it's bad, you can turn around and go home."

So, at 9:45, I threw on some clothes, touched up my make-up and headed out the door.  I got in my car, and started driving down the road, shaking my head at myself as I drove. (That seems to be happening a lot lately!)

An hour later, I pulled into the parking lot.  The parking lot was packed.  I got really excited.  I just knew this was going to be a good one.  I thought to myself... "I am going in. I am going to make friends.  They are going to invite me to go out for pie at Denny's afterward.  I hate pie, but I will go and have fun!"

I walked in, some punk kid was at the door, taking money... well kind of, he just stared at me.  Now, looking back, I know what he was thinking, "Hey sexy lady, you are way too young to be hanging out here, let's bust this joint and go to McDonalds for a happymeal."

I walked into the cultural hall, and glanced around.  HOLY CRAP!  I didn't see anyone there who looked under 50!  The average age had to be 60 plus!  Cotton heads, everywhere! 

THIS IS MY DATING POOL?!!!!  You have got to be kidding me!  Where are all the single LDS men in my age range hiding?  Come out, come out, where ever you are!   I am horny and waiting... oops, did I just say that out loud.  Pretend I didn't just say that!

The scene before my eyes, was nothing short of scary!  It was like the scene in Dirty Dancing, where Baby walks into the room, carrying a watermelon.   Only, it was 70 year olds recreating the dancing parts!

I think I made the same face! 


OK, OK, it wasn't really that bad..... but....


it was crazy awkward!

I took deep breath, and walked through the room, hoping to recognize someone.  Maybe just, maybe, someone I chat with on-line will be there.  As I walked by two older ladies, I heard one whisper to the other, "Poor thing, she must be new on the scene, her boobs are still so perky!"  OK, I didn't really witness that, but in my mind it happened!

I headed into the restroom, this seems to be my "go to" place to calm my nerves and talk myself into things.  I looked in the mirror, yep, still cute... and walked back out.  I walked back through the cultural hall and right out the door and got back in my car.  Guess my little pep talk didn't work.

I sat in the car for 15 minutes, trying to decide what to do, and then, I drove home.  The worse part of it all, at midnight, I went to the drive-thru at Taco Bell and ordered a burrito supreme!

Connect Four ... Not So Hot!

I was counting down the days.  I thought I was going to be so excited to be "free".  D day came.  I went to court, the judge said, "You are now divorced."  I felt a shock wave go through my body, and then I went numb.  I felt tears start to well up in my eyes, but I stopped before they fell.

And then, life went on.

I will not sit at home on the weekend and cry because I am not on a date. (At least that's what I keep telling myself.)  So I decided to go to a church dance for singles from the age of 31-45.  I invited another single lady to go with me, there is NO WAY that I would be able to do this alone.  Then I sent out an e-mail to one of the men that I met online that lives somewhat near me.

I had been emailing *Corey, for about 2 weeks or so.  He contacted me first and his first e-mail totally cracked me up.  It started out like this

Not sure why I am sending you a message yet. You are apparently loud, rambunctious, course mouthed and I wouldn't doubt you being a little unrestrained as well.

Wow... and he could tell all that from my profile.  But yeah... that's me.  So of course I responded to him.  After a few e-mails, I was really starting to be able to tell that he was a genuine nice guy.  Especially, after he called me "young lady", which almost put me off.... almost.

He had mentioned that he hated dancing and going to church dances... I knew this was a shot in the dark, but I asked if he would meet me there anyway.
I was so excited when he said he would go.  He even asked if he could take me out to dinner first.  I explained that I was going with another woman, but I looked forward to meeting him there.

Then I found out that the woman who was going to carpool with me, well, she is 54.  Let me just say... from her pictures, she looks smoking hot!  I hope to look that good when I'm 54.  (I will definitely need that boob job!) 

I started to panic.  I had already made up my mind that I was going to go, there was no changing it now. I was just going to have to do this alone. 

When Saturday came, I turned into a nervous wreck.  I changed my outfit 5 times. Every time I did, I took a picture and sent it to my girlfriend, who would then tell me yes or no.  I swear, it took me over 4 hours to get ready.  I was scared to eat, I didn't want stinky breath, and I was scared not to eat, cause I didn't want stinky breath. 
Finally, I was dressed and ready to go.  I dropped my kiddos off at my friend's house, I looked at her and said "I'm gonna puke."  Of course, she laughed at me, gave me a pep talk and sent me on my way.  My heart raced the whole time I was driving.  It was about a 40 minute drive, but oh hell, it felt like 10 hours.

I had told Corey that I would be there just after 9:00, and I would have been, if I had the right directions.  I don't know what I did wrong, but my directions took me 8 miles or so the wrong way. Knowing me, even if I had the correct directions, I would have still got lost.  I felt terrible.  Here I asked this guy who hates dances to meet me at one, and I was almost an hour late.  Thankfully, I had my own personal navigation system, named Jen, (and she babysits too!)

When I got there and walked in, I could hear that a slow song just started.  I walked past the door to the cultural hall, and I saw Corey walking over to ask someone to dance.  I ran quickly ran to down the hall, to the other side of the building to head to the restroom.  As I rushed past two ladies sitting on the floor, one yelled, "Nice heels!"  Yeah... I did have some killer red pumps on, and they looked pretty freaking hot if I do say so myself.

In the restroom, heart racing, I looked in the mirror and gave myself a pep talk. "You can do this!  You can do this!"  I walked back out, and back to the other side. I passed the "game room".  I peeked in.  Inside, was a handful of men playing Connect Four.  Something is very wrong with this picture!  There was a whole butt load of single woman, out dancing on the floor, and here these men were playing Connect Four!  These are probably the men that still live at home with their mom and their moms push them out the door yelling "Get to that dance and find a woman to marry so I can be a grandma already!", all the while they are crying, "But Mom, I wanna live with you!" 

A guy friend  warned me before hand.  He said , "Don't go!  Don't do it. Do NOT go to a singles dance!  You will want to jump off a building by the time you leave."  I was starting to understand.  I took a deep breath, swallowed my fear, and walked into the cultural hall.  I saw Corey sitting on the stage by himself. I walked over to him and he smiled.  He greeted me with a hug.  HUGE relief, he was even better looking in person then he was in his pictures.

We sat and talked, most of the dance and I was totally OK with that.  When a slow song came on, he asked me to dance. Then when it was over, we went back to the stage and talked some more.  Before hand, we had both agreed that it was totally OK for the other person to dance with other people, but, neither of us did.    He became my security blanket.  If I had actually gone alone and not met him there, I would have left after 5 minutes. 

 I scanned the mini crowd several different times, checking to see if there was anyone who peeked my interest.  I can honestly say that there was no one that I would consider my 'type.'  And in case you don't remember me saying before... I don't really have a 'type'.  So you gotta know the situation is pretty bleak when I can even find someone that fits that!

Corey was really nice.  I think that we both felt that we could be "friends".  And actually, I think he could be kinda perfect for my sister when she comes home from her mission.  That is, if she doesn't mind the age difference.
When we left the dance, Corey had to lead me to the freeway so that I wouldn't get lost... of course.

What I learned...
-I will not meet my future husband at a LDS mid-singles dance.
-Even so, a mid-singles dance is another safe place to meet up with someone I met online.
-A navigation system would be a good investment!
-I am not missing anything, if I stay at home and don't attend another mid-singles dance... EVER!

Sunday Night... Cougar Night

I have no clue it is about Sunday nights... but I have learned, that is where the young, over eager, single male, to put it nicely.... no wait... this is MY blog, I'm gonna say what I am thinking.  Let me try this again...   If you would like to meet a  horny, young male in his early 20's, who will tell you that you are "way hot" and don't care if you are 10 years older... try on-line dating on a Sunday night.  Now... this is NOT what I am looking for, but apparently, they are looking for me... or at least someone they think might be desperate enough to fall for their trap, by flashing those over bleached pearly whites.  I have previously fallen into a few traps.... (remember, I am here to be honest and let you laugh at my mistakes, not be judged)., but I am getting wise to their wiley ways.  Sneaky little critters, I'm on to you! 
The thing that boggles my mind the most is... where do they think they are going with this?  Even if they get to their end goal, which I believe, ultimately, is to get you to send them a topless picture, (don't worry, I have NOT been tricked into this... I ain't sending out topless photo's, (until I get some work done that is, watch your e-mails, I have a settlement coming!) I have had 3 kids.... I do not look like a Victoria Secret model, even though I pay good money for their bras!  These guys would be much better off logging on to some other site, (if ya know what I mean!) if they wanna see "perfect fake" boobs.

Actually, the funny thing is, none of the young ones have ever actually asked for a boob shot... only 1 guy has out right come out and asked for it... that was Campbell!  You remember, the hot 43 year old. 
*Side note* I saw my cousin from Utah 2 weeks ago, she told me she has seen him somewhere before and that he was jerk.  I told her that I figured that out.


I guess there is one thing I should mention...Monday morning, 9:15, it is final.  I am done. (and I don't mean blogging... that's when it should finally get good!)

I Met Him At The Grocery Store...

My friend, Cece lives on the other side of the valley.  That is... the same side of the valley where apparently, all of the single LDS  men live.  I hadn't seen Cece in awhile and decided that it was time to make the trek across the valley to spend a Saturday afternoon with her and let our girls hangout together.

We had planned to meet at a park, but when I got up Saturday morning, it was raining.    I called her and we changed our plans.  She actually needed me to pick her up at her husbands work.  He works at a bank, inside of a grocery store. But, not just any grocery store, it just so happens to be a grocery store just down the road from Brian.  In case ya'll don't remember, Brian, he was the first guy I ever used my "What's the difference between a duck?" line on.  And for the record... I only other used that one more time. ( I'm kind of over it by now.)

The wheels in my head started turning... I really wanted to meet Brian in person.  I didn't really want to meet him with my kids around (HA!  Like I have a choice)  ...... but I REALLY wanted to meet him!  I packed the girls in the car, and climbed in the front seat.  I sat there for a minute... my heart was racing...I took a deep breath and picked up my phone and typed out this text.  "I will be at the Fry's on the corner of Something Dr. and Whatever Blvd in just over an hour."   I looked at it, shook my head at myself, at hit send.  Then I backed out of the driveway and hit the road.  I was only driving for a few minutes when I got a response.  I cannot and will not text and drive, so I picked up the phone and called him.

Brain - I thought you didn't want to meet me yet.
Me- I'm just saying that I will be there in a little bit.  Maybe you could just happen to be there too.

I could tell he was hesitant.  He was right, I had told him that I wasn't ready yo meet him yet, but like I said before, I make rules up all the time, and then I brake them.  After I hung up the phone with him, I still wasn't sure if he was going to show up or not.  My nerves were going crazy.  By this point in time, I had already talked to him on the phone almost everyday for several weeks now.  I felt like I really knew him.  On the phone we had so much chemistry, would it be the same in person?

As I exited the freeway, I could feel my heart rate increase and my stomach start to churn.  I pulled into the parking lot and scanned all the cars, looking for his.  I didn't see it.  My heart sank.  Then as I got my girls out of the car, he sent me a text ."Let me know when you get there."  My heart started racing again.  I sent him back a text and let him know that I was already there.  I started getting all giddy, like a school girl.

We walked into the store, I hustled my girls over to the restroom.  I stood and looked at myself in the mirror.  This was so crazy.  It had been over 14 years since  I had worried about meeting a guy.  What if when he saw me, he was disappointed?  What if we had no chemistry in person.  Holy crap!  I have 3 kids with me.  This is not how this was suppose to happen!  I took a deep breath, fixed my lipstick, and pushed my kids out of the restroom, back into the store.  We walked through the store, my eyes kept scanning, looking for him.  I parked us in front of the door, nearest to the bank where Cece's husband worked.  The next few minutes felt like a hour!

I saw his silhouette in the doorway.  I started grinning from ear to ear.  I walked up to him only to see that he was smiling as big as I was.  For a spilt second, I wasn't sure what to do... then I just reached over and hugged him, and hugged him, and hugged him some more.  CRAP!  What were my kids thinking?  I pulled back and smiled at him again.  There was a moment of awkward silence and then with a sly wink,  we both started talking like we were old friends who hadn't seen one another in a long time.  We chatted for a few minutes, the whole time, I couldn't stop smiling at him.  It was kinda fun, we had this little secret. 

Cece showed up and I introduced her to my "old" friend, (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, she knew better...).  She played along and went to go talk with her husband.  Brian and I chatted for a few more minutes.  When the time came for him to leave, I reached over and hugged him again.  This time even longer then the first.  I just couldn't let go (not that he seemed to mind,)  then the worst thing happened.... my 5 year old said "Is he going to be our new daddy?"  OH CRAP!  "NO, NO, NO!" I said, "This is just a friend."  I was so embarrassed.  I looked at him and he was laughing.  "That's so cool!"  he said.  Wow!  He wasn't even freaked out by that.  There was one last quick hug, and then he left.

What I learned-
-While not the norm, a grocery store might actually be a safe place to meet someone I met online.
-DO NOT bring children along to meet someone for the first time.
-Keep some of the excitement to myself.  To much hugging, and I look like an eager beaver!  Just because I haven't been hugged by a man (family and friends, not included,) in over a year, doesn't mean that I need to make up for lost hugs all at once.