Dinner With A British Old Flame

Last week, I met up with E, a British old flame from my college days.

E resurfaced out of the blue in a Facebook email. I couldn’t help appreciating the irony of this, given that he was one of the reasons I hesitated to join Facebook in the first place.

During my junior year in London, E and I were good friends who ended up crossing the platonic line while he was on the rebound. One morning, I woke up to find a troubled look on E’s face. When I asked what was wrong, he responded--

“I don’t know…I just feel less for you than I did before.”

Ouch.

Bar Italia: E and I caught up over dinner at this fabulous UES wine bar and restaurant

Thankfully, it felt like a lifetime had passed since all of this unpleasantness as I approached E at Bar Italia.

Over a delicious dinner al fresco (including a heavenly plate of fettucini amatriciana), we talked about life, love and work. A film editor, E was in town working on the movie “Kick-Ass,” due out next spring. Now married with kids, he was quite inquisitive about why I’m still single, whether I’ve ever been in love, etc. By choice and yes, I answered, adding wryly that he’ll have to wait for my book to find out more.

E thanked me for agreeing to meet him, observing that I had every reason not to. Laughing, I admitted my initial inclination was to say no but then I figured, why not?

I’m glad I indulged my curiosity. Seeing E again put an important period on a brief but seminal chapter in my young adulthood.

As I walked away from him, I thought to myself -- he’s just an ordinary guy, one who happened to teach me the value of proceeding with caution when it comes to romance. And who, by extension, made me appreciate how great it feels to throw caution to the wind whenever you meet someone who warrants it.

Ladies Night Out: Double Header

Last Wednesday, I enjoyed a double dose of female bonding, beginning with a cocktail reception at the Ana Tzarev Gallery in Midtown celebrating Asian Contemporary Art Week.

While taking in Tzarev’s colorful, bold canvases, I caught up with friends and fellow writers Nadine and Gwen.

Nadine, Gwen and I enjoying cocktails and colorful art

Gwen filled us in on her birthday celebration at Feinstein’s at NYC’s Regency Hotel, where her longtime friend, actress Tyne Daly surprised her with a special serenade. Nadine and I mused about old flames – the one she’s currently reconnecting with, and the one I’m happy to be leaving in the past because he’s been divorced three times.

With plans to get together again soon, we parted company and I headed over to Bar Italia on NYC's Upper East Side for drinks with J-school classmate and blogger Liz.

Liz has launched Travelogged, a fun and fabulous site that gives new meaning to the word wanderlust. We gushed about some of our favorite recent travels – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and St. John in the USVI for me, Costa Rica and California’s wine country for her.

While enjoying a scrumptious plate of Italian meats and cheeses complemented by a smooth Sauvignon Blanc, we also talked about the perils of class reunions (Liz skipped ours) and the perks of life in the blogosphere.

Coming up…a look at “Desire Under The Elms” and more outrageous online dating tales.