Just in case you missed the memo, me and hubby are travelling through the southern United States.

So far we’ve visited Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and now we’re in Tennessee.

We’re just flying by the seat of our pants and poking around in small towns, big cities and getting a feel for the very foreign world here. Believe me when I say it’s a long ways from home.

Everyone is so friendly and I’ve never been called ma’am so much in my life. I ❤️ it.

There’s been good and a little bit of not-so-good, but let me tell you, last night we attended an NHL hockey game in Nashville and it was the best game I think I’ve ever been to… and it wasn’t because Vancouver defeated the Nashville Predators. 😉

It was because seated to my left were Matthew and Shannon. Total strangers—until they weren’t.

They appeared to be a typical young couple who were simply enjoying the game. It all changed after Vancouver scored the first goal.

The few Canuck fans in the audience, that would be me and maybe ten others, jumped to our feet and cheered. I then, (being a good Canadian girl…) turned to the neighbour to my left (Matthew—and he was wearing a yellow predator’s jersey) and said…

“Sorry about that…” 😂

Well, that was the start of something very special between strangers.

The young couple laughed and we started to chat.

Well, wasn’t I just a little surprised when I found out they were on their first date.

Matthew, a frequent visitor to the restaurant where Shannon is a server, finally worked up the courage to ask her out.

He wanted it to be special… not just a movie or something like that, so he chose dinner and a hockey game… Fate had him sitting right beside me. Lucky guy. Lol. 🤩

As it turned out, we had a lot of “coincidental” things in common turn up right away.

• Matthew’s mom is a writer. (Wrote erotica for years and now continues to write… what, he doesn’t know).
• Shannon just finished writing a book on grief (she recently lost a close friend and the book really helped her in her healing journey).
• Shannon is in the process of editing and wants to publish her book and is hoping to write more.
• Her fave place in the world is Italy and she wants to get duel citizenship and live there (you go girl!)
• She is pursuing social work/helping profession… I did the same for many years
• We all obviously love ice hockey.
• Matthew has stories to tell. Though he’s not writing yet, I really hope he finds a way to share.
• He served in the Navy on a submarine. I like sub sandwiches… close enough on that one (hat’s off to anyone who can live underwater in a tiny tin tube… I couldn’t do it!) 🤓
• Both have a passion for life and moving forward.
• Both want to make a positive mark on the world in their own way.
• They are ten years apart … he’s 32. She’s 22. hmm…
• And get this… Matthew’s grandmother’s name was Faye. Spelled exactly the same way. Most I’ve ever met, don’t have an ‘e’ on the end.

I ended up being part of their first date. They started out nervous and dare I say, a bit awkward, but soon relaxed as we all laughed and bonded as we periodically checked in on the progress of the hockey game.

Shannon got up and went to the restroom.

Matthew shared even more personal information and admitted he was ready to find the right girl and settle down. Hey Matthew, if you’re reading this, you really need to write a book…

Shannon returned, only to have Matthew leave for the restroom. Hmm… 🤔

What a wonderful young woman. We ‘got’ each other immediately. We chatted. She shared her thoughts about the world and then after Matthew returned we all watched the game.

(Actually at this point I scarfed down a hotdog and fries that hubby magically happened upon. I got mustard all over my new sweatshirt and nearly dumped everything on the person’s head in front of me as I was forced once again to leap to my feet to celebrate yet another Canuck goal.) 🏒 😜

I had asked Matthew earlier what they were doing after the game. His response:

“I don’t know. I suppose I’ll just take her home.” (I told him that was lame… I know, I know…. None of my business, but… I posed the question again a bit later to the two of them at the same time…)

Now, feeling much more comfortable with each other and relaxed through a third party, they said they were going to go walking and maybe have a drink and chat some more. Yay…

I regret not getting their emails or contact info… Shannon! Matthew! You can also message me through this site: faye@fayearcand.com

I started thinking about first dates.

It’s been a million years for me but I still remember the nerves, the trying to be on my best behaviour, and just nodding and looking pretty without asking a single important question.

Dang, you don’t want to go home after a first date without knowing a single fact about who the other person is, so I then felt compelled to list five questions that each should answer and discuss on the first date.

These are the types of questions that are great to ask before you start getting all goopy eyed and can’t think straight.

While they’re serious questions, they can also be fun and take you off in areas that you may not have discussed otherwise. The key is to listen to your gut.

Don’t be shy… tell your date they’re Auntie’s questions.

Remember, you can always blame Auntie. (That works for getting out of a situation too… Sorry I told Auntie I’d be there at two…oh my look at the time…) 😊

Five Questions to Ask on the First Date

1. Do you have kids? (If the answer is yes, then you need to find out more. Tuck the info away and later ask yourself how this makes you feel or could affect you.)

2. Have you ever cheated on a partner? Or been cheated on?

3. Where do you see yourself in a year? In three years? Five?

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

5. Country or pop? Canucks or Predators? Wine or Water? Meat or veg? Hot or cold?

At the end of the hockey game, the three of us hugged and wished each other well.

Meetings like that don’t happen by accident.

I was blessed to meet two people in a city that I’d never been to before. Thank you to Matthew and Shannon for sharing your first date with me. What a wonderful night!

Wishing you both the best in whatever you choose to do.

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Readers! Tell me about your first date. Did you get all tongue tied and goofy? Did you get to know the other person? What questions would you recommend first daters ask each other?

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Good night from Nashville.

Tomorrow we’re headed south and mosey our way back to New Orleans with a couple nights in Florida and a couple in Biloxi, Mississippi.

I’ll be home soon and then fill you in a bit more on my Auntie book that will be published in the Spring of 2024. It’ll be ahhhhhmazing.

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