I ran across this saying this morning and it reminded me of a date I once had that showed up to meet me, for the first time, wearing a shirt that said this. I guess it would have been funny if it hadn't been true about him. The best part of this story is the happy ending and the fact that I can now laugh about it. Here's the flashback:
About a 2 years ago my old boss from BYU called me and said that a friend's son had just moved to Vegas. He was a member of the same church I belong to, but rather inactive. He had just gotten done working at Club Med's all over the world. He was the head paramedic for a hotel here in Vegas and "really attractive". He needed friends (that's the line that ALWAYS sucks me in!). I didn't know if we'd have a ton in common, but I decided to give it a shot. He called me and we decided to make it a double date, but he said I had to bring a "hot girl" to hook his friend up with (bad sign #1). I racked my brain regarding cute girls I knew and a girl I had just met popped into my mind - Karli. I didn't really know her at all, but she seemed easy going and fun. I gave her a call and she was in! We met the guys at the Mandalay Bay, just outside of Rum Jungle. Her date was tall and handsome. Mine was the opposite, with a shirt touting the above logo. I was immediately overwhelmed with one of those "Can I just turn around and RUN" feelings, but for the sake of friendships I knew I was committed. Right away I knew my date had not taken his "meds" (this sounds so mean, but it really is the truth of the matter - thus making it the worst blind date ever). He was shouting at people, pretending to trip over himself in hopes that people would stare, holding sections of my hair like they were reigns on a horse, and so on. We got to the Shark Reef and the boys were nice enough to let us pay for ourselves, while the one guy got the other guy in for free with his coupon. Once inside the imitating of the fish began. I had no idea that my date was so multi-talented. He could imitate everything from the jelly fish to the shark and even the turtle! Everyone in the whole place notice him. Good thing there weren't rocks around. Then it struck him... people get so entranced while they are watching the giant sharks that it's a perfect time to pull a fast one on them! The lucky unknowing participant was none other than his blind date... me! I was standing there watching the sharks and all of the sudden I felt TEETH sink into the left side of my neck. Yes, that's right... my blind date BIT me as if I was his late afternoon snack, right in front of a ton of fish watchers. I couldn't have been more embarrassed. My face turned bright red and I had to make sure that I hadn't wet myself (all systems go). It was then that I realized I could no longer be alone. I ran and found (the then stranger in my life) Karli. I grabbed her by the elbow and whispered in her ear "don't look now, but my date just bit me on the neck while imitating the shark in the tank. PLEASE do not leave me alone with him!" Her eyes got huge and she just nodded her head and a sisterly bond was at that moment formed, which we have never lost.
After the Shark Reef the guys decided they wanted to do something else. After a million suggestions by us, the guys decided they wanted dessert. They asked us to drive since they were sick of driving, so we willingly accepted. We got stuck in traffic on the strip, which made the guys very impatient. I was worried I was going to get bit again out of frustration, so I had scooted myself all the way over to the side of the door. Luckily, he managed to contain himself. We got to Bahama Breeze after the guys had flipped someone off, cat called to some prostitutes walking down the road, and returned some phone call to a "really hot chick". We got inside, ordered shakes and finished them quickly. When the bill came, Karli's date grabbed the check, threw in a $5.oo bill and yelled, "throw some cash in and pass it around!" I didn't have any cash on me and so I asked if Karli could spot me some money, which she did. Her date yelled at me "hey cheapskate, I didn't see you put any money in the pot" and the two guys busted up laughing. At that point the water works were one step away from being turned on.
We ended up being asked to take Karli's date home to Henderson and when we finally got him home to his house, we turned to each other inside the car and hugged! We knew we were bonded for life. We laughed so hard on the way home that we were both crying. Whenever we think of how we became bossom friends, our mind always returns to this night. Even though it was super crazy, our friendship has been the happy ending that came from all of it, which I am so grateful for.
THE NELSONS
.... WRITING TO REMEMBER LIFE'S BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS...
Monday, January 8, 2007
Worst Blind Date Ever...
I ran across this saying this morning and it reminded me of a date I once had that showed up to meet me, for the first time, wearing a shirt that said this. I guess it would have been funny if it hadn't been true about him. The best part of this story is the happy ending and the fact that I can now laugh about it. Here's the flashback:
About a 2 years ago my old boss from BYU called me and said that a friend's son had just moved to Vegas. He was a member of the same church I belong to, but rather inactive. He had just gotten done working at Club Med's all over the world. He was the head paramedic for a hotel here in Vegas and "really attractive". He needed friends (that's the line that ALWAYS sucks me in!). I didn't know if we'd have a ton in common, but I decided to give it a shot. He called me and we decided to make it a double date, but he said I had to bring a "hot girl" to hook his friend up with (bad sign #1). I racked my brain regarding cute girls I knew and a girl I had just met popped into my mind - Karli. I didn't really know her at all, but she seemed easy going and fun. I gave her a call and she was in! We met the guys at the Mandalay Bay, just outside of Rum Jungle. Her date was tall and handsome. Mine was the opposite, with a shirt touting the above logo. I was immediately overwhelmed with one of those "Can I just turn around and RUN" feelings, but for the sake of friendships I knew I was committed. Right away I knew my date had not taken his "meds" (this sounds so mean, but it really is the truth of the matter - thus making it the worst blind date ever). He was shouting at people, pretending to trip over himself in hopes that people would stare, holding sections of my hair like they were reigns on a horse, and so on. We got to the Shark Reef and the boys were nice enough to let us pay for ourselves, while the one guy got the other guy in for free with his coupon. Once inside the imitating of the fish began. I had no idea that my date was so multi-talented. He could imitate everything from the jelly fish to the shark and even the turtle! Everyone in the whole place notice him. Good thing there weren't rocks around. Then it struck him... people get so entranced while they are watching the giant sharks that it's a perfect time to pull a fast one on them! The lucky unknowing participant was none other than his blind date... me! I was standing there watching the sharks and all of the sudden I felt TEETH sink into the left side of my neck. Yes, that's right... my blind date BIT me as if I was his late afternoon snack, right in front of a ton of fish watchers. I couldn't have been more embarrassed. My face turned bright red and I had to make sure that I hadn't wet myself (all systems go). It was then that I realized I could no longer be alone. I ran and found (the then stranger in my life) Karli. I grabbed her by the elbow and whispered in her ear "don't look now, but my date just bit me on the neck while imitating the shark in the tank. PLEASE do not leave me alone with him!" Her eyes got huge and she just nodded her head and a sisterly bond was at that moment formed, which we have never lost.
After the Shark Reef the guys decided they wanted to do something else. After a million suggestions by us, the guys decided they wanted dessert. They asked us to drive since they were sick of driving, so we willingly accepted. We got stuck in traffic on the strip, which made the guys very impatient. I was worried I was going to get bit again out of frustration, so I had scooted myself all the way over to the side of the door. Luckily, he managed to contain himself. We got to Bahama Breeze after the guys had flipped someone off, cat called to some prostitutes walking down the road, and returned some phone call to a "really hot chick". We got inside, ordered shakes and finished them quickly. When the bill came, Karli's date grabbed the check, threw in a $5.oo bill and yelled, "throw some cash in and pass it around!" I didn't have any cash on me and so I asked if Karli could spot me some money, which she did. Her date yelled at me "hey cheapskate, I didn't see you put any money in the pot" and the two guys busted up laughing. At that point the water works were one step away from being turned on.
We ended up being asked to take Karli's date home to Henderson and when we finally got him home to his house, we turned to each other inside the car and hugged! We knew we were bonded for life. We laughed so hard on the way home that we were both crying. Whenever we think of how we became bossom friends, our mind always returns to this night. Even though it was super crazy, our friendship has been the happy ending that came from all of it, which I am so grateful for.
