After a whole day of trying, I finally get a human voice. It's not her, but it's a start. I talk to Calista finally. Banter, small talk, and then go for the kill. She accepts. We talk about lots more things, of trees and snails and peppermint wings. I'm deliriously happy. I learn about her, she learns about me.

Our first date is to Starbucks. We meet for outdoor coffee type treats. We talk for about three hours there. It's funny, but as I was waiting for her to show up, I realized I couldn't exactly grasp her exact face in my head. I didn't remember what she looked like. And I found out later that she didn't remember my name, she had to ask Carl for it. So even then, we were suited. Then she came.

To be honest, my memory had added a little more cuteness than I saw. But she was definitely pretty. Short hair, brownish with little blondish tints. Thin. But her most striking feature is her face. Her eyes. The way her nose tilts. I take this all in as we buy drinks and go outside. Those three hours rock. The drinks long forgotten, the sun setting behind her head, my legs cramping as I sit in my oh so cool legs drawn up position (and she's doing the same thing!) as we discuss life and fripperies. I learn about her family, her hobbies (synchronized swimming), favorite music (Jars of Clay, the Gufs), friends. She learns about my shallow ambitions and selected family anecdotes, and the new running kick I'm presently on. Then she has to split because it's much later than she expected and I go home to swoon.

The next day, I write three really terrible poems about new love.

Our second date is to Grosse Pointe Blank. Before the film, we go to coffee with Jason and Heather. Jason tries to embarrass me as usual, but as we leave to go out separate ways, as I'm walking around the car to the driver's side after letting Calista into her seat, Jason says, "I think she's a keeper." That's all the encouragement I need. Grosse Pointe Blank is still my favorite movie.

I got her a flower that night and she left it in my car. So I had to drop it off the next day. Poor me.