My Real-Life Golden Bachelorette Journey: The Pre-Game

I went on my first "outing" with a longtime friend to test my fledgling wings. It was fun!

“H” is the only man I know who can make a baseball jacket look dashing.

I remember the first time “H” came to work at the media company I had recently joined. To have two Editors in Chief —one male, one female—at the helm of two publications for people of color we had each conceptualized from scratch was unusual. But even more surprising was the instant rapport we developed with one another. I say surprising because journalists are notoriously envious of each other, and that mentality goes double in corporate spaces where there can only be one Black “favorite” at the top.

“H” does not have a scarcity mentality. He believes, as I do, that there’s more than enough for everyone to share. He’s also one of the most well-connected, creative leaders I’ve ever met. In short: we will always have each other’s back.

On that note, when I told him about this journey I am on for AJPT, he was instantly intrigued. He was also all in!

You know that feeling you get when you haven’t seen someone in a while, but the moment you get together you pick up right where you left off? That describes our “date” perfectly. He arrived earlier than I did, and I was on time! He complimented my choice of restaurant (it was a steakhouse with delicious food and a fabulous bartender who knows how to make an Old Fashioned, which is a skill set I aspire to). We gave each other hugs and quickly jumped into catching up. This went on for HOURS, and I enjoyed every minute.

This is “H” doing what he’s always doing—dreaming of his next creative triumph, all while texting the babysitter to see if everything is okay at home.

The conversation ranged from our current work projects to our respective dating situations, our crazy kids/young adults, what we’ve been streaming, his new upcoming interior design video series, my crazy employment rollercoaster, Bad Bunny’s latest video about Puerto Rico, and of course the upcoming election. I told him his publication should do a Black men’s roundup of support for VP Harris in anticipation of her presidential win since the word on the street (which is absolutely not true) is that all Black men are going to vote for Drumpf. He, in turn, tried to convince me that I should have my own show. (Should I? Hmmmm…)

In between, we both destroyed a petit filet mignon (medium) and a NY strip (medium plus), with sauteed mushrooms and broccoli au gratin on the side. (I didn’t stop to take a picture, but I think you can use your imagination, lol.)

Anywho, as we walked out into the crisp fall night, I asked him if he had any dating advice for me. “H” shrugged his shoulders and said quite honestly, “We are all just out here trying to figure it out. But I love that you are being so open about it.” As we parted ways, I screamed back, “Hey, we didn’t talk about the Diddy debacle!” He said, “That’s right, we have to! And read Danyel’s article about it.”

I was so happy we got together, even if not for a love connection. We poured into each other in ways that left me energized, like I actually could do this meeting-new-people thing. I just needed a practice session. So I sent him this note to end the night:

I woke up the next day to this message from “H”:

To be continued…