"Watch the Paint"

"What??"

"When you mount the bike, watch the paint... I just had it done."

Myyyy goodness.  I had never been on a Harley before, and after that night, I'll never get on one again.

This date was completely by accident.  I had met Harley months ago, but the last time I saw him, we were with a group of people.  One lady recommended this Italian restuarant.  So, as the group disbanded, we were walking towards the parking lot and paused to chat a bit.  On some strange note, he even showed me his tan line -- stereotypical Floridian!  They need their sun!!!  Maybe I was distracted, or the 100 degree weather was getting to me, because before I knew it, we made tentative plans for the following week.

Except, those tentative plans turned into, "Let's check out that restaurant, but I pick you up on the bike."  So certain.  As if, I have no choice!  I could have said no, but started thinking that I've never been on a motorcycle, so what the heck.  What I didn't realize, was a ride to Ontario feels like forever when you're hanging on for dear life, and your face gets all dirty with exhaust.  I followed Harley's tutorial to a T, had appropriate clothing, and got there in one piece.

The restaurant was nice.  So nice, that the host wouldn't let him sit in the dining room for wearing a shirt with cut-off sleeves.  She was nice enough to get him a shirt from the kitchen staff.

Dinner went well and we talked quite a bit.  In fact, he wanted to know if there was a formula to making relationships work.  He talked about his past marriages... yup, that's plural.  So, although we chatted, let's just say there was no romantic spark.

When he dropped me off at home, he asked if there was a sweater or windbreaker he could borrow for the ride home (it had gotten a little chilly).  So I invited him in, and he ended up talking with my mother for about an hour!  Voluntarily, too...in fact, he also asked her about the secret formula for making a marriage work.  The crazy thing is, she enjoying talking to him... then she learned I went on a Harley Davidson, and that's another blog entirely, but she liked him.  I had to tell her he's only a friend, so not to get any ideas.

In the end, it was a proper date... He picked me up, took me out, brought me back.  Most importantly, I didn't scratch his bike.