Saturday, February 16, 2013

The "If I Were..." Game


After a lovely and romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, we still had some time before catching the train back home from Union Station. Slightly giddy from wine, we ducked into a hip restaurant, squeezed in between a group of men to grab two seats at the bar and ordered.

“What’s the deal with the nametags on all those guys?” My husband asked nodding his head towards the group.

“Well there’s only one way to find out.” I answered.

I leaned around him.

“Happy Valentine’s Day. Why are you wearing nametags?’

“We’re here for an event.” Said one man rather abruptly quickly leaving the bar. Drinks in hand, the rest of the group followed.

"Did I offend him somehow?"

"I don't think so?"

Glancing around, we saw several people with their name and a number pasted to their chests. I’m much too curious sometimes for my own good. I had to know so I waved over the bartender.

“What’s with all with nametags?”

“They’re holding a speed dating event tonight in the bar. Every four minutes they rotate partners for the next hour.”

“Oh! So that’s why that guy was wonky. He was nervous. This should be interesting to watch!”

And every four minutes when the whistle blew, our heads would snap around to see the new rotation. Everyone seemed engaged in lively conversation. Smiling. They looked pretty good at it actually. The mismatches were a riot.

As spectators, we decided to play a few rounds of speed dating ourselves making up all kinds of wacky questions and answers.

“If you actually said that, I would never give you my number!”

“Well you’re not as funny as you think you are!”

We weren’t serious at all. It was really fun.

On the way home, we caught the milk run; a train that stops at every station. We didn’t care at all. We decided to play a game we hadn’t in a long time called “If I were hit by a meteor, would you…”

Date? Who? What? Where? When? How? Anyone I know? Would you marry again? How would your life be different without me (assuming the other was gone solely due to natural disaster always using a meteor)? Etc., etc., etc.

The next morning, the phone rang oddly early. My husband doesn’t often call before 7:00 unless it's something important.

“Have you been on the internet yet?”

“No. Why?”

“Go look. You’ll know what I’m talking about.”

What began as a fun and silly game one evening turned sad the following morning. Our game can’t be called “If I were hit by a meteor...” anymore.

Our world is one crazy, crazy place.

22 comments:

Barb said...

Speed dating intrigues me. I kind of wish it was a thing before I met my husband, just so I could give it a try. Freaky about the meteor.

Unknown said...

What happened with the meteor?

Tammy Theriault said...

Too funny...I don't think I would speed date in the past!

Kinley Dane said...

I would love to be a speed dating spectator. I don't think I would like to participate, that freaks me out, but it would be so fascinating to see other people in action.

How weird about that meteor striking. So sad.

Glad you two had a lovely night, otherwise, though!

Unknown said...

I'm sorry you have to change the name of your game, but it sounds like a really great date night.

Gina said...

A meteor exploded over Russia and injured approximately 1,000 people.

Gina said...

It was a BLAST!!! I don't believe I would have done it either.

Gina said...

When we found out just what it was, we both looked at each other like "SCORE!" They looked like they were having fun but I can attest to the fact that the men I saw just before it began were extremely nervous.

It was really sad because we were joking about it hours before. It was an act of God and the likelihood it would happen to one of us is improbable. Or so we'd like to think.

Gina said...

Oh, we probably won't because it is highly unusual that it would happen to us. It was just plain weird!!! It was a very, very, very fun date night.

Louise Ducote said...

Observing speed dating while hanging out with your love sounds soooooo entertaining! I totally enjoyed this post (and I also would not have been able to rest until I found out what the nametags were about).

Gina said...

It looked really fun. Everyone was smiling, meeting people... I'm not sure I'd want to do it but it was great as a spectator ;-)

Totally freaky about the meteor like we shouldn't have been saying that...

Jamie Miles said...

Wasn't the meteor thing freaky? But your game was supposing some colossal world-ending meteor. Okay. I'm not going to even chance joking about that. Sounds like a fun Valentine's date.

Unknown said...

The people watching sounds fabulous--but to be an actual speed-dater on V-day sounds like the 5th ring of hell, but hey one man's treasure...it sounds like it was a lot of fun even if there was a slightly freaky element at the very end :)
xo Mary Jo

tedstrutz said...

Be careful what you say, the BIG meteor is sill coming...

You didn't say anything about women at this speed dating... I'll bet your speed date was fun... sometimes the best fun is the silliest and can provide lots of love.

a.eye said...

You and I seem to have some sort of power to talk about things and then have them happen. I just wrote this week about how I talked a fire into happening in my school. Crazy... I guess we really should be careful what we say!

lumdog2012 said...

Speed dating seems weird though it sounds fun to be a spectator. Did you see any negative vibes or was everyone on his/her best behavior? And...what was the special gift?

Gina said...

It was like watching a reality TV show! I become slightly obsessed when I'm curious.

Gina said...

At least a meteor hitting the person asking the question but not the other one! It was a blast. Love going into the city.

Gina said...

I LOVE to people watch! They seemed like they were having fun. I suppose if you didn't have a date and didn't feel like staying at home, an event like this for an hour could be fun.

It was freaky the next morning. We couldn't believe we were kidding about it then it happened.

Gina said...

I KNOW!!! I will be careful.

It was so silly. We asked each other crazy questions and made up every answer.

Gina said...

I knew we had things in common and maybe foreshadowing freaky events is one of them. I have to go and read that now.

Gina said...

It's a great spectating event! Glad it wasn't me but maybe if my significant other got hit by a meteor, I'd try it (we actually talked about that and both said we wouldn't do it). Everyone was on their best behavior, smiling and chatty. It was only for an hour. I have no idea what happened after the last whistle blew!

A beautiful David Yurman bracelet I mentioned I thought was pretty a long time ago.