So, in major news this week is Hurricane Irma, a powerful hurricane that’s threatening South Florida. A friend of mine from my days in Spain, whom happens to live in Miami, called me up and told me that him being in the path of “another angry Irma” was irony not lost on him. The backstory is that when we both were stationed in Spain, we met this local named Irma at a speed dating event. While I didn’t feel she was a fit for me, she was just right for what he wanted: her body. They ended up having some physical relations and he moved on but she didn’t take it in stride. She was very vengeful and the way she went about getting back at him was likened to the progression of a tropical cyclone—from tropical storm to Category 1 hurricane all the way to Category 5 hurricane. Looking back on it, I’m glad I passed on that chick. That brings me to this week’s moment in the Flashback Friday series: my first speed dating experience.
How I first came across this moment? It all started with my neighbor and wingman really having a thing for the Spanish women. I did think they were very attractive and the accents really did a number on me but for him, he wanted to “conquer” them…and that was the word he used. He came up with the idea of us going to a speed dating event locally in Rota. I agreed because I felt it would be good to get back in the dating game—or at least see where I stood—in the aftermath of losing Valorie Drew. I ended up going on 5 dates during the 2-hour event—each of them lasting 5 minutes. Nothing really materialized out of it for me.
What it meant to me then? In the moment, it was awkward. It was my first time dipping into the dating waters since losing my first love and I felt bad for doing it. The women were top-notch, no doubt, but it just didn’t click for me. That’s why after the 5th date, I quit for the night and just went to a restaurant across the street to have gachas while my wingman did his work.
What it means to me now? Looking back on this some 13 years later, I probably shouldn’t have been so apprehensive in the moment. Who knows? I probably could’ve ended up with a Spanish girlfriend. Anyway, I don’t regret not pushing things with Irma though. As I learned later, she was flat out crazy so there’s that.
