wes & the city

I'm not sure if it was a date or not, but I suppose that getting a kiss on the cheek at the end constitutes as a date, so now that I've spoiled the ending in order to better describe what this was, I'll continue on spoiling the rest of the story.

I had my very first New York City-style date on Wednesday. I went out with the youngin'. Like I said, I'm going to open my mind up a little bit and try something new. So, I did. After getting directions from a co-worker, who I now believe was attempting to sabotage my date, instead of Google Maps, I raced my ass to Brooklyn to hop on the subway to get to Manhattan. That's how I do things here, because I refuse to pay money to sit on a train to Brooklyn. My co-worker, who thought he had all the answers, or just wanted me to be late for the date so he could swoop in and snatch my snatch, gave me shitty directions and I was late. Luckily, only 15 minutes late.

We met at Union Square, one of my all-time favorite places in New York, and had that initial "we're on a first date" awkwardness. Cute awkwardness. I decided to break that in half by announcing that I had to pee so fucking bad. I really did, though. Thank God, too, because there was a Starbucks. I went pee.

He's just as cute as I remembered from the club (that just sounds gross). In fact, cuter. And I maintain that he looks 27 years old. Even with sober eyes. We decide (I decide) that we should check out the High Line, which is a brand spankin' new park built in Chelsea on an abandoned railroad track above the city. It was funded and created by gays, so you know it's got to be good. We make the walk from Union Square to the park, and start off with first date chitter chatter. He's half Puerto Rican, half Irish, which equals a whole lotta sass.

The High Line is amazing. Instead of falling in love with my date, I fell in love with the High Line. That shit is so fucking off the chain. It's an architectural orgasm all up in New York City. I can't even describe it properly other than it's the coolest park I've ever been to, the views are incredible, and there's a really cool section where you can sit down and watch the street below you. And, if you're there with a really cute boy talking about Lady GaGa, it's even better.

After sitting there for a few hours and talking about our mutual love for GaGa, I discovered that he does not like Madonna. Now, there is something about a boy who does not like Madonna that I really just cannot resist. Even though I totally bow down to the Queen, boys who don't like her just turn me on. It's like I'm being blasphemous or doing naughty things by being with them, because I know I shouldn't be. Either way, the only boys I've ever loved have hated Madonna. One of them ended up liking her, I ended up hating him. One still hates her, I still love him. So, that just shows you how this shit goes.

We went to a diner and got pizza burgers. I've never had a pizza burger before, but I did on my first New York City date and it was delicious. I paid, cause I'm a sucker, and also because I was in a trance, and also because I felt like I was ballin' out of control being on a date in New York City.

We walked back to Union Square and sat down in the park and talked about art. It was at this point that I realized I am really dumb for counting people out before I should. Judgments are okay sometimes, and they definitely can help you avoid sticky situations, but if you're not willing to reassess, you might miss out on something really cool. I'm glad I reassessed, because he's more mature than most of the people I know at my age, and I realized that experiences are what shape you - not exactly how long you've been alive. I appreciate people who understand their place in situations, who have a sense of self-awareness. He has that, so I'm excited to see what else he's got.

At the end of the night, we walked to the subway and said goodbye. I gave him a hug and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. In the middle of the subway in front of dozens of people. I like to say that my date was as familiar as an episode of Sex & The City, even though there was no sex, nudity, and little cursing. It was, however, a little bit romantic, a little bit funny, and it was in Manhattan. Everything else was totally new.