Dating a Real Gentleman

Hello there, it's been a while since we've talked. I'm sorry, I can explain.

And yes, it does involve a man.

My friend invited me to go to church with her one Sunday. I arrived early and waited in the hall until she arrived. Naturally, I looked around me to see what was happening. (I'm a people-watcher.) There was quite a crowd down the hall near the entrance to the chapel. I watched as people moved about, giving hugs, saying hello, and asking about the weekend. For a moment the crowd parted and my gaze met his. (Cheesy and dramatic, I know.) He was standing near the door, handing out Sunday programs. Can I get a "Hello, Handsome?!"

I waited at my end of the hall until my friend arrived, then she and I entered together. Handsome handed my friend a program and he asked if I would like one. I smiled and said I would share with my friend. We went in and sat down. I leaned over to my friend and asked "Who was that in the blue by the door?" She smiled and said "Oh, that's Handsome."

The sacrament meeting started. Mid way through the service, I noticed Handsome sitting near the front. He casually turned around, our eyes met and I smiled. (Actually, I think I accidentally winked.) 

I didn't see him for the rest of the three hour block. Apparently he had left early. I didn't think much of it. I said goodbye to my friend at the end of church and went to the restroom. When I came out, I ran into her in the hall. She pretty much attacked me "DID YOU GET MY TEXT?!"  She then proceeded to tell me that Handsome had texted her and asked about me because he thought I was super cute. :)

The following day my friend gave Hansome my number. He contacted me that day and asked me out for the weekend.

Saturday we went to a Salt Lake Bee's game. We really hit it off. Everything was perfect--the evening even ended with fireworks on the baseball field. Sigh.

We continued to see each other for the next 2 weeks. We didn't have to play the dating game, the  "should I wait to text him/her? I can't see them for another two days--it's too soon" We just spent time together because we wanted to, because we enjoyed each other's company. Things were going well, we were talking every day and it seemed just too good! But one day he told me he didn't feel that it was right for us to keep dating. It was disappointing, to say the least. My recent dating experiences have seemed to go this way: I like him, he likes me. Then a week or two later he isn't dating me anymore. (*Sigh.* One day it'll work out.) (:

My point in sharing all of this isn't to complain, I really can't complain about the good experience I had while dating Handsome. The dates we had were fantastic. He's an amazing person and I am glad I know him. I'm writing this post mostly just to pay tribute to good men. (And to apologize for being blog-absent for so long.)

Even though this relationship didn't work out as I would have liked, I am grateful that I had the experience of dating such a sweet man. It gives me hope for the future (maybe one day I'll find another guy like him!). 

So, Mr. Handsome, thank you for being a gentleman.  Thank you for singing in the car with me. Thank you for treating me with respect. Thank you for being considerate. Thank you for the sweet kisses. ;) Thank you for just being amazing. :) It's refreshing to date someone who is so good.

And so dear readers, though dating may be hard--with its many ups and downs--try to find what's right! Enjoy the ups! Don't worry too much about the downs. Focus on what you're learning and how your experiences are helping you grow. Life presents us with opportunities to learn every single day. So, seize the day! :) Enjoy the moment. Spend time with people you like. Be kind. Reach out. Build yourself and others.

Much love, 

Lady Like

How to Lose a Girl in One Date

You may be familiar with the movie "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. If you're not familiar with this movie, you should be. It's funny. (Although I may regret recommending this movie because I haven't watched it for over 2 years.) Anyway, to make a long story short, a girl thinks she can lose a guy in 10 days, the guy thinks he can make a girl fall in love with him in 10 days. They just happen to be thrown together, and ...the results? A really funny movie.


While it took Kate Hudson ten strenuous days to lose a guy, a young man I dated quickly lost me after one date.

We were introduced in the produce section of a grocery store. He greeted me with a hug. Charm was almost literally dripping from his sleeve. He was handsome. Smart. Witty. Easy to talk to.

A week later we went on our first date.

A week after that we had a second.

Each date just got better.

I don't know that I've ever met someone that I hit it off with so quickly. I laughed more on those two dates with him than I did on my last 20 dates combined. He expressed his interest openly, I expressed mine. I was completely comfortable and felt like I could really be myself around him. It was a modern-day dating miracle. I had found Prince Charming.

Or so I thought.

The third date happened a week later--I asked him to go to a soccer game. Things had been going well, so I stepped into the waters of vulnerability. (Maybe this was a mistake?)

It felt like a first date with a stranger. The familiarity of the previous dates was gone. He didn't flirt. He had his phone out--snapchat. He asked me to meet up with him at a rendezvous spot before getting to the game, nullifying his previous statement about how a guy should always drive/pick up the girl. At the end of the date he dropped me off at my car and I got a seat-belted side-hug while still sitting in the car.

Utterly baffled, I drove myself home.

What had changed?

I mean, on our second date he pretty much said he felt like it was love at first sight. A little cliche, but surprisingly attractive of him to say. (I'm usually not the overly-sappy, mushy-gushy type.) The next day our mutual friend (the one who introduced us) informed me that Sir Prince Charming was now seriously dating another girl. The cold-shoulder treatment and 180-turn around was explained. ONE DAY after our last date he was holding hands with another girl in church. In my 'umble opinion, if he was seriously dating (or even on the verge of seriously dating) another girl he shouldn't have accepted a date with me.


I'll admit, I was hurt. He is a good person, but I don't think the last date was necessarily his brightest moment.

Moral of the  story is:

"When you've decided you don't like a girl, then it's okay to stop being a gentleman." said no lady ever.

Be honest. Be considerate. Be yourself (it'll come through eventually).