How do you get ready for a date with someone you've never met? I have no idea. Shave carefully. Use the right amount of hair gel. Try on three pairs of jeans and two t-shirts and three dress shirts. All that first impression stuff puts me on the edge when I know it is coming. Day-to-day unpremeditated first impressions aren't intimidating, they just happen. You get out of bed and pull some clothes off the floor and maybe you don't shave or bother to put in your contact lenses and you don't care who you're going to run into during the next sixteen hours.
I find it hard to shake that feeling of being on stage--trying to speak well, remember your blocking, and react to what is going on around you. But you don't want to have a different persona on a date. I guess I shouldn't worry about it, I'm bound to drop my fork or show up a little late or pour diet Coke on myself while I'm driving.
Posted by mike at July 14, 2003 11:27 PM