Fireworks at Midnight
22January 3, 2011 by Kat Richter
Since my last post, I’ve consumed one and a half martinis, three chocolate rum balls, two glasses of champagne, another two glasses of sangria and at least eight cups of coffee. Fortunately New Years Eve festivities span a full 48 hours here in Philadelphia so I managed to pace myself. Nonetheless, I was extremely grateful for the fact that New Years Day fell on a Saturday this year. This way, I had an entire extra day in which to drink more coffee, consume more chocolates and prepare for my first date of 2011 before returning to my real job.
But something rather unexpected happened at the annual Richter Family New Year’s Eve Martini Bar Soiree—something of the romantic variety. And before we get any further with the latest developments in my eHarmony online dating experiment, I feel that I simply must explain.
Having grown up on a steady diet of Jane Austen, I’ve spent the past decade or so waiting for a Darcy-like fixture to move in around the corner. It hasn’t happened (which is why I’ve resorted to online dating) but this hasn’t stopped me from hoping that some year someone is going to bring an eligible brother/son/cousin/nephew/ex-husband to one of my parents’ holiday parties. This is why I go to such great lengths to contribute impressive desserts to my mother’s holiday party menus; in the event that I’m ever introduced to an eligible brother/son/cousin/nephew/ex-husband, I want to be sure that he’ll recognize my limited but nonetheless aesthetically pleasing culinary talents.
You would think that after 25 years of disappointment, I’d have given up on the thought of two perfect strangers connecting over a plate of artfully-arranged crudités in the Richter family living room. You would think that I wouldn’t even bother to get all totted up in a new strapless dress and a corresponding pair of truly tortuous high heels. You would think I’d be content to just drink martinis and dance on the roof deck with my college roommates (at least those of which who haven’t had the nerve to get married and move across the country). But hope springs eternal, and even though I had no intention of seeing either of my Potential Soul Mates on New Year’s, there was indeed a meeting of two perfect strangers, a kiss at midnight, and several instances of bone fide hand-holding the next day.
Unfortunately, I was not involved.
But I did witness the events in question, and I like to think that I was involved in an ancillary, Fairy-God-Mother sort of way.
These two strangers, you see, were strangers to each other but not to me. Both are family friends and devoted members of my so-called public, by which I mean they subscribe to my blog and bonded, (one must presume) over both crudités and my witty observations of being single and 20-something.
I didn’t witness their introduction but I expect it went something like this:
Him: So, I couldn’t help but notice that you appear to be here on your own tonight, which is rather coincidental seeing as I am as well. Would you care to engage in meaningless small talk while we admire these here artfully-arranged desserts?
Her: Why, yes. Indeed.
Him: Excellent. So then, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Her: Well, I subscribe to this crazy blog in which this girl spent three months serial dating men on Match.com, then she got involved with this guy she met at Marshalls, then she met this other guy she really liked online, but there was all this drama with him so now she’s on—
Him: She’s on eHarmony! I know! I read her blog too!
She: Really? OMG! That’s AMAZING! Can I offer you some crudités?
And the rest, as they say, is history. (Or not. I’m not quite sure but I’ve enlisted the help of several spies to keep me posted on post-party developments.)
The moral of this story is that you should probably subscribe to my blog because as you can see, good things happen to people who subscribe to my blog. The other moral of this story is that it is indeed possible to meet someone at my parents’ holiday party— just not for me, which is why I’m off to meet PSM#2 for our second date and this time I intend to kiss him.
My name is Kat Richter and I'm a writer, dancer and reformed serial dater. I write about relationships, travel, bargain basement fashion and the funny things I see and hear around Philadelphia. Enjoy, and remember: its not dating, its fieldwork!
Dont kiss him yet, see if he is prepared to wait. Excited to hear about it though.
x
Haha! Love this! We all had a great time with everyone this weekend
It feels pretty cool to be part of some “inner circle” who knows the real names behind PSM1 and 2!
At first I was disappointed to read the line “Unfortunately, I was not involved” but overall this is an awesome story! Can the same thing happen for those of us who are following your blog from a different continent? Hope your date was great – I look forward to reading!
Hmmm… I hadn’t considered followers from different continents but who knows! I’ll have to see what sort of widgets I can pull together to facilitate international blog-related dating. (Any advice Dennis? lol
)
Your blog is setting up other people, not sure that your intention… subscribed. haha!
I love that the Her of that story is the same person who got me hooked on reading your blogs… and that she texted me about this instance on Sunday to be like “I just had to tell you. omg.”
and now I get to read about it!
Huzzah!
I felt special, and had to share.
Love it! Looks like “Her” is starring in her very own little soap opera now
I’m famous!!!!!! And, You’re welcome. lol
And I’m sure your blog was very beneficial in the world of small talk!
Silly girl, you’ve just outed yourself! But I guess you can’t be “famous” AND anonymous
well anyone who knows who “jenn b” is probably already knew the whole story anyway so it doesn’t matter much haha
You will become a match maker. Perhaps you could work with Steven Ward’s business. Working every day with him would be fantastic!
http://besswess.wordpress.com
too cute and was so funny seeing it all unfold, all of us trying to say they were the first one to notice…
I love this!
A steady stream of Jane Austen? Unfortunately I get Bronte and Hardy which have set me up for a very different sort of romance.
Wonderful anecdote by the way. Delightful as always.
Haha, I definitely had a bit of a Heathcliff fascination in high school
Brilliant
Ah yes, see being on another continent and being a subscriber to the awesomeness that is your blog I have high expectations of you now that youll be able to do the same for me huh ? lol – Either that or you’ll just have to call in if you are ever in the Land of Oz 
Is the He of the story your brother who you are trying to keep anonymous by calling him a family friend?
My, my… what fine detective work we have going on here
I will leave it to those involved (or not involved) to confirm or deny as they see fit 
This is too funny, but unfortunately I can’t say why this particular reply is so ironically funny…
But if they both knew Kat, can’t it be assumed the girl already know her brother, therefore they would not have been strangers… so probably not the brother…
I got engaged somewhere between the man from marshalls fall out, I’m pretty sure, so there is some credit to this! Your blog is like a lucky charm.
That’s so exciting! Congrats!!!