Page 28 - Rana Sampson Issue (1)

Worst Date Ever
Dating

A Single Woman’s Quest for Mr. Right Sometimes Brings Mr. Wrong
by Vessa Rinehart-Phillips

I really appreciate men and I did enjoy my single days before get- “Is that gauge working?”
ting married. However, during my search for “the man” who would “Oh, yeah,” replied Dennis, “I’m low on fuel, but I don’t have any
be my prince-in-shining-armor, I experienced, some not-so-great money to gas up.” I wasn’t carrying any bills or credit cards, but
dates. in the bottom of my purse, I had a coin purse, and I offered the
One of the more memorable dates wedged in my memory that I’m change to Dennis. It was $3.95 and he quickly stopped for gas.
The van wouldn’t start again and he asked if I would give it a quick
push to get it going, since he claimed the clutch was tricky and he
was the only one who could hold the wheel. I pushed the van in
my high heels out of the gas station driveway, staggered in, and we
were again on our way. When we arrived in San Francisco, we had
to park several blocks away from Davies Hall because he hadn’t
brought any money for parking. We made the trek to the hall and
were seated.
It was a special Christmas performance. The orchestra conduc-
tor invited the audience to sing along with a few carols before it
started. A man with an impressive Opera voice sat behind us and
bellowed out the songs. The crowd was elderly and the lady next
to Dennis had a medical condition which made her hands shake.
Dennis began shaking his program to imitate the lady next to us
and singing in a false Opera voice to mimic the man behind him.
I started sinking in my chair. My stomach turned in knots as the
glares from the patrons sitting around us started to notice Dennis’
indiscretion. I excused myself to the bathroom and I was sick until
intermission, when I emerged, Dennis was standing outside the
bathroom and helped me hobble back to the car. Once I was home
and away from Dennis, I miraculously felt better.
28

SAVE THE DATE!

still working on extracting from my recollection, was my date with
Dennis. Dennis was a painter and we had dated casually a few LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation
times previously. I met him at a church social; catching a movie is pleased to host Hospice Foundation of
after church or a quick bite to eat had been entertaining. America’s annual Living with Grief program
He had asked me out for a formal Saturday night date on the night
I had been given a pair of tickets to the San Francisco Symphony. Spirituality and End-of-Life Care
He agreed to escort me to the Symphony instead of whatever he Thursday, April 28, 2011
had planned. I had only been to the Symphony once before in 12:30p.m. to 4p.m.
San Francisco at Davies Hall with its glimmering lights and upscale Jewish Federation of San Diego County
4950 Murphy Canyon Road
atmosphere, and I was excited. Dennis showed up on my doorstep RSVPs are required
wearing his brown painters pants splattered with white paint cover-
ing his open-toed tattered Birkenstock sandals. The program will explore the differences between spirituality and religion;
Wearing a long gown, and in my politeness not wanting to insist the spiritual issues and coping that may emerge throughout an illness; and
that he change clothes and be ill mannered I asked, “Did you need approaches to help patients deal with end-of-life issues. A panel of experts
will conduct a discussion after the seminar. There is no cost to attend and
to change here?” I pointed to the open door of the bathroom in my Continuing Education (CE) credits will be available online for $30. Seating is
apartment. limited so RSVPs are required. Contact us at michele@lbhcf.org to reserve
“Oh, no,” replied Dennis, “I’m going to act like a wealthy millionaire your seat today.
who can dress however he wants to dress.” Our co-sponsors are:
I climbed into his rickety van which backfired as we headed towards Ohr Ami: The Jewish Hospice Program
the Bay Bridge. He started to open an ice cream bar that he had Jewish Federation of San Diego County
brought with him and started to eat it while driving without offering Jewish Family Service of San Diego
anything to me. I happened to look at the gas gauge and noticed
that it was on empty. For more information, please call Michele at (858) 458-2992

March/April 2011