First Date Jitters

First dates are terribly awkward… or so I’ve been told. It’s been many years since I’ve ventured out on one. A girlfriend of mine, who has been flying solo the last few years, has had the opportunity to experience many first dates during that time. One of her biggest concerns is running out of things to discuss before the date is over. So while in the past I’ve laughed this fear off and casually dismissed it as silly, today I’ve realized why I’ve never experienced that kind of anxiety first hand. I may not have had a first date in ages but I approach all new relationships the same way I did when I was still on the market. My intent is to learn as much as possible about the person within the first few hours and then if a friendship is desirable, I’ll do my best to dazzle! In an attempt to ease first date jitters for those of you out there still experiencing them, here are my Top 5 go to questions to learn as much as you can and keep the conversation going (assuming you still want it to after you hear their answers!).
1) What is your favorite movie?
A favorite movie usually details one of three things – a situation they’ve lived through, their biggest fear, or their greatest hope. For instance my favorite movie all through high school was My Best Friend’s Wedding, completely exposing the fact that my biggest fear during that time in my life was realizing too late that I was in love with someone and watching them slip away.
2) What is your all-time favorite song?
Make sure you specify ALL-TIME favorite song. A favorite song “at the moment” doesn’t count…. it doesn’t hold any real weight. A true favorite song is one that defines the person in a way they’re not capable of doing with their own words. My favorite song is Tom Petty’s, “Walls”. I want to hear it when I’m happy. I want to hear it when I’m sad….and if you ever listen to it, you’ll get a sense of who I am.
3) What were you like in high school?
Initially you may think this doesn’t matter, but trust me – it does. It’s not who they were that’s the important part of the answer. The test is seeing if they’ve gotten past it. If they claim they were popular and seem proud of it- you’ve landed yourself someone who probably peaked in high school. If they use words like “athlete”, “musician”, “partier” and avoid social standing altogether, odds are they aren’t really proud of who they were back then. If they admit they were a bit of a “nerd” – you’ve just boarded the awesome train.
4) Have you read any good books lately?
 Yes, ask this question even if YOU haven’t read any good books lately. If their short answer is “no”, not to worry! Not everyone enjoys reading and the question will likely prompt them to describe numerous activities they participate in that prevent them from finding time to read. If the answer, however, is “yes”, then get ready for some eye opening material.
5) Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Cliché? Maybe. Important? Hells yes!!! Cat lovers and dog lovers don’t mix. Don’t be fooled by those claiming to be on the fence. Those people don’t exist. Date over.