First Date: New York Style

Last week I was in New York visiting a very dear friend. We have known each other for 11 years and have shared a lot; in person, by text, email and the old reliable postal mail. We met when I was in New York on an exchange programme in the Summer of 2000. The very first thing Kerri said to me was that I look American*. We are both called Kerri. We were both born in March (I'm younger!). We always have great fun together.

On every visit there is at least one outstanding memory. In Novemeber '08 we did the Sex & the City tour (not recommended, we made our own fun).


K1 and K2 outside the Magnolia Bakery


Last year there was the lamp post climbing incident in Boston (post a visit to Cheers). Funniest night ever, and we still laugh, side splittingly about it.



K1 and K2 post Cheers, pre lamp post climbing

 In March of this year we celebrated my birthday Galway Hooker style.

Birthday shenanigans at The Galway Hooker

But one of this year's events will definitely go down as one of the oddest things to ever happen... we'll tell our grandchildren about it. Kerri had met a guy shortly before I arrived and he asked her out (nothing new there). He wanted to take her to a modern dance show in Queens. She explained that I would be staying with her and could I come too. He had no problem with that.

So we went to the show, it was great. He seemed like the perfect gentleman. Refused to take money for either of our tickets. Paid for our drinks. Introduced us to his friend who was a performer in the show. The friend and her boyfriend live in the same area as Kerri so they offered us a ride home. I should point out at this stage that the seemingly "perfect gentleman" had drank way too much neat whiskey at this stage, followed by a cocktail and the most revolting tequilla shot I have ever tasted.

As we were leaving the bar he decided it was time to cash in his gentleman coupons and make out with K1 in the hopes that she would ditch her out-of-town friend and go back to his place. K1 is too classy for that and politely informed him it was a first date (an unusual one by any standards I will admit).

All five of us piled into the car and headed for home. En route, Charlie (I've changed his name) made a call to a buddy to find out where he was: "Dude, where are you? Are you in Midtown?" ... "Ok, I'll meet you there." Within seconds of this phone call he spotted a subway station and ordered the driver (his friend) to pull over. Without a word he got out of the car, slammed the door and headed for the subway leaving four shocked strangers behind.

Two days later he emailed K1 to apologise again (this was the first contact since leaving the bar). He EMAILED!!!!

On the upside, it wasn't a total waste of a night. We saw a really great dance show and K1 made a new contact in the performing arts world... and we have a new story to laugh about.

*I get that a lot, especially from taxi drivers and other Americans.