Unbeknownst to each other, Elyse was on her last internet date before giving up on humanity and Andrew was less than eagerly awaiting one more in an unbroken chain of first dates. But they both had devastatingly cute profile pics, so what the hell? Elyse proposed they reschedule the date due to a rain shower, but Andrew did not and still does not consider anything that happens in California to be “rain” and besides, he feared that the early 2000s Mercedes his mechanic had leant him would soon be returned in exchange for his repaired hatchback which smelled like an animal shelter. They met at a small wine bar in Hayes Valley. Elyse wore a warm smile and an easy laugh. Andrew, 20lbs lighter then, looked spectacular. They drank and chatted. Andrew learned what charcuterie is (but has since forgotten). Andrew offered a ride home to avoid the “rain”. Although the conversation revealed similarities and a glimpse of compatibility, it was the Eryka Badu cassette tape stuck in the car stereo that set the tone that night. Then Andrew left on a work trip for 3 weeks and Elyse thought “well that’s that.” Andrew eventually came back and took her out again just to prove her wrong. She made him meet her family too early, but he held it together and no one asked him about sports so I guess it worked out.