Tonight (Labor day) was my first date date with Whit. I met him on gay dating site back on Aug 27. We had a lot in common. He is a school teacher / University Adjunct Prof of History and Education. He also went to Southern Miss back in the day. We exchanged phone numbers on 8/30 and have been texting ever since. He was out of town for his daughter's wedding and got back yesterday.
Our date was dinner at Central BBQ at the downtown location (right behind the Civil Rights Museum) and then we went to Mud Island Greenway for a walk along the Mississippi River at sunset. We held hands and walked and then stopped to talk on a bench for a while and then back to our cars. He said it was 8pm and we could either call it a night or go back to his place since it was early. I chose to go back to his place.
His apartment was not to far away and when we arrive we kissed for some time. Taking our time and I think neither of us were really expecting to go much further, but we kept kissing and carressing. We removed each other's shirts and continued to explore each other (carressing and kissing). Finaly he said "I do have a bed" so we moved there and from there, nature took its course.......by the time we were done, it was almost midnight when we both said we did not want it to end, but we both have to work in the morning.
I do feel a great connection with him. We both feel comfortable talking to each other on any subject and it felt right, from our handholding while walking the Greenway, to being in bed caressing each other. We made tentative plans for next friday.
Could this be my first real LTR? Time will tell...but this is a great start.....
2022/09/09
My second date with Whit. He drove to my place and then, after explaining what he did with his hand (in a cast) we went to Pete and Sam's an italian resturant. I had the Veal Parmigiano and he had the Miss Vita Salad with chicken. Nice meal with good conversation. After that we said we were going to take a walk at Overton Park, but I took a wrong turn and didnt realize I did it until I was at Park Ave and White Station. When I figured it out Whit was saying "I was wondering when you were going to figure out you were going the wrong way". He did say something to indicate that we were going the scenic route, but I just didn't clue in...making it much more laughable. He probably will not let me live it down.
We finally got to Overton Park and there were a lot of cars and we heard music from the Shell, but we walked around a bit and talked and kissed a bit, before checking out the show.
We got there, we didnt know the group, but it was very nice music so we stayed for the rest of the show, holding hands, carressing and giving a kiss or two while listening to the music (according to the website, the group was "Gone Gone Beyond").
After the concert we got back to the car and we starting thinking about what to do next.....he said "have you ever been to Gibson's Donuts?" Funny thing was I just saw the Tennessee Crossroads eppisode on it and even looked it up saying "I should go one day." So we did. I have had the donuts before, but never been there...we bought a dozen.
We headed back to my place and I invited him to spend the night. After figuring out how to keep my dog Bear out of the hall, we went to bed. Neither one of us wanted to get up. but bear had to be let out around 8am.
We had coffee and some more donuts for breakfast. We talked for a good long while, but then we both said we needed to get something done for our classes...so he left, but invited me to dinner at his place tonight (9/10).
It should be noted that he asked me a question in bed this moring "do you think we should erase our dating / hookup apps off our phones?" I said "So you are asking - Can we be exclusive?" and he said "Yes". So I guess it is turning into my first LTR....
2022/09/10
For our third date, it was dinner at his place....he is a pretty good cook (even with one hand). We talked, caressed and kissed and then went to sleep. He cooked breakfast for me to, then he invited me to a Ben Platt concert next sunday in Nashville...so this will be our next date and our first trip together.
2022/09/12
Not really a date, but just got off the phone with Whit. We talked about work, politics, and then he changed the subject to our relationship. He said everything I was thinking about the last week. We both admidted we were falling in love with the other and were extatic but at the same time scared shitless. We both expressed the "but what if I screw it up" sentiment. He admited he has not felt this way in years and I admited I have never felt this way before about anyone. We talked about our trip next weekend and then when we finally ended the conversation and hung up. After that I just started laughing to the point of crying....as I told Whit, I never understood love songs until this week....but now I do!
Cant wait for this weekend!
2022/09/16 - 2022/09/19
Spent a long weekend with Whit. When he got off work on Friday, he came by the house and left his car and I drove us to Nashville (because his hand is still in a cast due to his fall over a week ago).
Whit's Arm (before his class signed it)
The drive was fine, but when we reached the address for the Mr B&B we booked no one greeted us. I phone the number of of the host and he texted back "Daniel somehow I didn't get your request and I don't have a room for you! I'm Sorry but I'm in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and I guess it came thru during the storm on Tuesday. Im just hearing about this".
We did hear someone in the house and knocked on the door anyway, and the two guys that take care of the place answered. They said that "Ron was probably stoned and just confirmed the reservation but forgot he already confirmed someone using a different app" but they said they would work something out (and where mad at Ron for multiple issues...this being the latest).
So they said they would put us up in Ron's room and that they would also make sure that Ron gave our money back. They said to go to dinner and by the time we got back they would have the room as ready as they could (Ron is a slob and his room was a disaster area).
They suggested we go to Emery Wood Fire and we did go there. At first they said they couldn't seat us (even though there were plenty of tables...maybe it was because it was an hour from close, I don't know). Whit went to the restroom, and some people came in and got seated. I sort of gave a look at the hostest. She left for a bit and then came back and said "The manager said it would be ok to seat you." So by the time Whit came back from the restroom, I was at a table.
We had a wonderful dinner (he had chicken - which I had to cut for him because of his hand, and I had steak). By the time we got back to the house, our room was ready and we went to bed.
The next morning we went to The Pancake Pantry. G-d the food. I had eggs, country ham, hash browns and pancakes with coffee and Whit had a waffle, has browns (that came late) along with sausage patties. We were stuffed afterwards. We headed over to a GasLamp Antiques, one of Whit's favorite spots. We looked around for a long time...it was a real fun place. I spotted a series of antique books on Steam Enineering and Whit said they were "so me" he bought them for me.
Books Whit Bought for me (on my office shelf)
We then went to the Frist Art Museum downtown. I have never heard of a museum that did not have a permanent collection, but they dont, but they did have an exhibit "Knights in Armor" and it was really good. But even more fun was when we walked through the gift shop. Whit spotted a "Monty Python Coffee mug" and I had to buy it for myself. During the purchase he struck up a conversation with the "Sassy" person behind the counter...what a time they had talking...I wish I had his gift for gab.
We then headed to the Parthanon It was the perfect day for it, cool, sunny and a light breeze. Although crowded, we had a good time just sitting on the steps of the Parthanon talking about our possible lives together.
The Parthanon
After that we headed over the main drag of the Nashville party district and had dinner at Old Red and listened to live music and had a wonderful dinner of a Bavarian Pretzel and Meatloaf and mashed potatos. The music was fun to sing along to and the group played a lot of good rock songs, and of course some beer helped. We then went to the rooftop for the view and more music (this time country). Then we went back to the B&B for the night.
Okd Red
The next day we woke up really late and didnt get going until almost 11:30. Our hosts suggested a The Nashville Jam Co. What a choice, this place was a little dive, but the food was FANTASTIC. I had the Stuffed French Toast (Custard Dipped, Blueberry Compote, Chesse Cake Batter) and country ham. WOW!
We then headed back to the B&B and we both had a bit of work to do. We then went to bed for a bit for a nap, but never fell asleep but cuddled for a while. Then it was time to get dressed for dinner and the concert. We got an uber downtown and ate at Merchants resurant, then to the Bridestone Arena for the Ben Platt Concert. We did miss part of the warm up act but still caught a few numbers from "Ally & AJ".
Between sets Whit struck again with his gift for gab and started a conversation with a couple behind us (the woman thought we were a cute couple and wanted to take a picture for us). Then Ben Platt came on...what a show...it was diffinitly a great show for our first weekend together and the songs he did definitly will become part of the soundtrack of our lives together. After the show, a woman called to us and said she took the cutest video of us and had to send us a copy....it is below. After the show we took an Uber home with another "Sassy" woman. Whit and her really had a long "battle" about college football. We cuttled a bit when we got home, but went to sleep since we had to wake up early to head back to Memphis for our classes monday morning.
The next day we woke, showered and got on the road. We did run a bit late, so I did end up cancling my morning class. We got back to my house. Since I cancled and he had some time, but he said he had to go unless I had a pair of 40x32 kakies and I did...so he stayed just a bit longer before heading to work.
A follow up on Ron...After calling for a refund, they called me back and said that "Ron had auto accept booking turned on, and that I would recieve a full refund" they also said they "turned it off since it appeared that Ron did not log into his account for over a month" (so it would not happen again)...our real hosts got a real kick out of that (although it just confirmed what they already knew....
What a first trip together!
2022/09/23 - 2022/09/25
Whit and I spent most of the weekend together. Firday was our one month anaversary. Whit sent me flowers during the day so I wanted to make our evening special. I went to his place and brought dinner from Lucchesi's along with Prosecco Sparkling wine and, knowing he loved chocolate, Dinstuhl's Chocolates. Afterwards we watched a movie "Broad Peak" and then to bed.
The next morning we woke up very slowly and decided to meet back up to go to the Pink Palace Craft Show. It was fun and the weather was perfect (except, perhaps a bit too sunny). We had a good time and saw a lot of intresting crafts, but really didn't buy anything. Then we went shopping (since it was Whit's turn to cook). We stopped off at the pet store to pick up some pet gates so we wouldn't have to move furnature around any more, then headed back to my place. We put up the gates. Dinner was steak and challah. Bear is having a hard time adjusting to having someone else in the house and the new gates, but he will just have to get use to it. After a bit of talking and cleaning up from dinner, it was to bed.
Next morning whi was in pain, so he put on an ice pack and we had a simple conenental breakfast in bed. Once we got up, he went home to get some stuff and to buy supplies for dinner, and returned, still in pain. We both had some work to do, so we did a bit of work. We then called mom. I told her "you know three weeks ago you asked if I found some one yet? Well...." and then came out to her and told her about Whit and the last month. As expected she said "I'm glad you are happy", although I do not think she fully comprehended that I was coming out to her. Afterwards, Whit insisted I get the in the car. Would not tell me where we were going, but we ended up at the Ben and Jerry's shop and both had ice cream. We then headed home and then had a wonderful dinner of chicken and rice pialf and talked some more. Whit was still sore, and Bear was still acting up a bit, so we went to bed.
It was a good weekend (other than Whit's injury).
2022/09/30 - 2022/10/01
Although Whit stayed at the house most of the week, he wanted to make my birthday weekend special. We started off with dinner at the Soul Fish Cafe over in Cooper Young. I had the fried shrimp platter and he had catfish. There was a LBGTQ protest during dinner (this was a response to the Pink Pallace having to cancle a drag show earlier in the week becouse of the Proud Boys - a radical right wing group, was protesting the show and they were armed at the time). He then took be downtown to The Peabody Memphis. We walked though the lobby, and then he took me to the memorabilia room and then we snuck into the main ballroom. We tried to go to the roof, but the elevator would not let us select that floor. I needed a bathroom, and while I was in there, Whit struck up a conversation with a chef walking by, by the time I got back out, another man was there (Will) and somehow Whit had arranged for him to take us to the roof (since it was my birthday, but it was currently closed). We had the roof all to our selves and we enjoyed the view, saw the Duck Palace and everything. He even took our pictures under the Peabody Sign. We then went back down to the lobby for drinks. Even though it wasn't on the menu, Whit suggested the "Chocolate Martini" so we both had one. It was so good and the waitress put ducks in the drinks since it was my birthday (Whit again). What a special night......
2022/10/7 - 2022/10/16 (Fall Break+)
On friday of spring break Whit and I went out first to dinner at Memphis Pizza Cafe, then had ice cream at Sweet Noshings then to Lafayette's to see the show (two acts, the first was good, but I do not recall the name of the couple, the next was Almost Elton John). On staurday we hung our new bathroom cabinet and just did some general shopping and errands but did have drinks with Will and Sarah before they headed to Las Vagas, then took out some Lo Mein and ate at home. Sunday we went to Elwood's Smoke shack for lunch and then food shopping. Monday we did a trip to Audubon Place (where the Target is) and checked out both Williams-Sonoma Outlet Store and Pottery Barn outlet store. Tuesday it was Haircuts.
I had to work wend and thursday of that week, but on the Thursday, I cancled my night classes and we headed to Fayetteville, AR. We stayed at the Dickson Street Bed and Breakfast (after first going to the wrong address we got checked in). Wonderful Attic Room with a bedroom area, sitting area and nice bath. Friday we did the War Eagle Mill Craft Fair. I have never been to such a craft fair...it was huge. We went through everything one time then, after eating - I had a ham sandwich, black berry cobbler ala mode, a huge tub of lemonaid and a funnel cake) and on our way back to the car, we bought everything we wanted (christmast wreaths for Whit's classroom and the house/cabin, 2 wooden Christmast Trees (for decoration at the cabin), a plaque for our 2nd month anaversary, 2 wood hand turned pens, a dog toy for bear, some gormet hot chocolate/hot cider, ammerato chocolate cherry fudge, and a stone cutting board (I think that was it). That night we met up with Chris at Hugo's for dinner. Chris is a long time friend of Whit's so they caught up and then I got to know him. He is a hoot. The next day we did the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. WOW what I can say, I enjoyed eveything about the place....the waking trail with sculptures/buildings, the art, the architecture and just how the space meshed with the landscape around it. Had a good lunch there, along with a good game of giant chess, then we started to drive back to Memphis. We stopped at Wiederkehr Wine Cellar & Restaurant for dinner. When we got out it was quite a storm and got soked getting back to the car. We did hit a number of really stormy patches on the way back home but made it back without incident.
