Throwback Thursday — The Dating Game

Fandango

Maggie, at From Cave Walls, and Lauren, at LSS Attitude of Gratitude, alternate hosting Throwback Thursday. The idea of the prompt is for them to give us a topic and for us to write a post in which we share our own memories or experiences about the given topic. This week, Lauren gives us the topic of our first dating experiences.

Here are Lauren’s questions.

1) On your very first date, did you do the asking, or were you asked out?

Face it, I’m an old fart and I can’t remember a damn thing about my very first date. I can’t even remember who she was. But based upon dating protocols at the time, I’m sure I did the asking.

2) Were you typically stressed out before a first date? Did things seem to be easier the more you dated the same person?

I’d say more excited than stressed out. As to whether or not things got easier, that depended upon the girl. If she turned out to be the high maintenance type or the insecure, jealous type, things tended to get more difficult, rather than easier.

3) What did you do to prepare for the date? Did you wear new clothes, or special outfits?

I showered, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair. Other than that, I didn’t do much to prepare. I tried not to put on airs. My motto was “accept me as I am or reject me.”

4) How did you meet those first dates? Were your dates with friends of a family member, or friends of a friend?

Most of the girls I went out with in the “early” days were girls in the neighborhood or from school.

5) Did you have a curfew on those early dates? Did you typically arrive home on time or were you constantly breaking curfew?

More often than not, it was the girl, not me, who had a curfew.

6) Did your parents insist on meeting whomever you dated?

Nope, and that was fine with me.

7) Where did you usually go when on a date? (movies, concerts, picnics, etc.)

All of those, plus dinners, bowling, miniature golf, and museums and art galleries. I also had a motorcycle at the time, so there were thrilling motorcycle rides.

8) Did the boy/man always pay for the date or did you go Dutch treat?

I always paid unless the “date” was with a girl who was a good friend, a platonic friend. Then we might have gone Dutch.

9) Were you typically the talker or the listener on a date?

I had two older sisters and they advised me, if I wanted to be successful with a girl, I needed to spend 30% of my time with her talking and 70% of my time listening. And not just listening, but really hearing her and remembering what she said.

10) What did you do if the date clearly wasn’t going well? (feign a headache, ask to go home, end the date early, etc.)

I tried not to make rash judgments or decisions, so unless the date was going so badly that it was unsalvageable, I would try to make the best of a seemingly bad situation. But there was no hope, I’d say something like, “I’m sorry but I don’t think this is meant to be.”

11) A connection from the past to the present, if applicable. How long did you date your current partner before marriage?

We dated for a year and then lived together for a year before we got married. And we’ve been married for 44 years.

12) Bonus Question: Care to share a disasters first date?

I wrote all about this disaster in this post, if you’d care to read all about it.

21 thoughts on “Throwback Thursday — The Dating Game”

  2. Nope, Not Pam July 28, 2022 / 8:38 pm

    Sometimes I wish I’d dated, but there’s no point in worrying about it now I guess

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango July 28, 2022 / 10:16 pm

      My goodness. You never watch TV and you never dated? Are you a real person or an AI robot? 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      • Nope, Not Pam July 29, 2022 / 12:50 am

        I was very shy

        Liked by 1 person

  3. donmatthewspoetry July 28, 2022 / 8:50 pm

    “I’m sorry but I don’t think this is meant to be.” is such a good response……

    Liked by 2 people

      • Nancy Richy July 29, 2022 / 7:26 am

        Thank you! The best years of our lives with many more memories to make! 💕

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Lauren July 29, 2022 / 7:53 am

    What a terrific story. A belated Mazel tov on celebrating your 50th.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Lauren July 29, 2022 / 7:59 am

    Thanks for joining in Fandango. Your sisters gave you great advice. You mentioned that you did not have a curfew, did they? Having a motorcycle was a definite “chick magnet” back in my day.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango July 29, 2022 / 4:51 pm

      My sisters probably did have a curfew, but they were both a lot older than me, so I am not positive.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Melanie B Cee July 29, 2022 / 10:19 am

    You two did something right. 44 years? Wowza! At least you were upfront and honest if it weren’t working out, didn’t string anyone along with that tired old line ” I’ll phone you”. Yeah.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Carol anne July 30, 2022 / 2:17 am

    Great answers this week, Fandango! I enjoyed reading your post!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Fandango July 30, 2022 / 3:34 pm

      That makes my day!

      Like

  9. leigha66 July 31, 2022 / 12:07 pm

    First date ever, he asked me out and the ending of the date summed up how well it went – he tried to gag me with his tongue for my first ever kiss. And to think I met him at a church… ha, ha!

    Liked by 1 person

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