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Romance and Geography 101~ Atreides ~ Little can match the combination of excitement and terror as waiting for a plane to take off on the way to an initial long-distance date. Except, perhaps, for jumping out of the plane halfway there. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Unlike some, I lacked the willpower to limit my e-mail to just the "local girls." It was only natural that eventually we would reach a plateau -- the point where there wasn't anything to gain by continuing to write. We needed to meet in the flesh (figuratively, if not literally) to see if that elusive chemistry existed for real, or just in our imaginations. Driving to a local restaurant to meet for dinner is a relatively simple proposition. Flying to a far-off city to do the same isn't. For one thing, there are financial considerations. Fortunately, I stumbled onto the beginnings of the major airlines' Internet clearance sales, and signed up. Each Wednesday would bring a slew of heavily discounted fares for that weekend (the seats which they are guessing will otherwise go empty). And, I'd anxiously plow through them to see if a particular city combination was in there. Eventually, bingo! Then there's the matter of etiquette. One isn't committing to two hours for dinner, but two days of . . . whatever. The big question, of course, is where will one be sleeping. Alright, the big question may be "with whom" will one be sleeping, but "where" is right up there. Me, I usually opted for a hotel (whether I was visiting her, or vice-versa). Call it an overdeveloped self-protection instinct. Best to make a reservation and have that option open just in case you hate each other on sight. Or, more likely, realize early on that there isn't quite as much in common as you thought. Should things work out considerably more pleasantly, with most hotels you can cancel before 5-6:00pm. And if passion doesn't strike until later in the evening, you and your newfound sweetie can always take advantage of the pay-per-view channels and the Magic Fingers. Except in a major city, it can't hurt to have arranged to rent a car. Weekend rates make it quite reasonable. Again playing devil's advocate, should things not work out you're not trapped alone in a hotel room for two days. Solitary pay-per-view and Magic Fingers do wear a little thin after a while. Recommendation? Go for it! Look at it as an adventurous weekend vacation. And if the magic strikes (not the Magic Finger kind), it just could be a vacation which lasts for a lifetime. |
