Toasted Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese with kombucha.

I had reconnected with a girl I went to middle school with. Her family has a place nearby and I told her to hit me up next time visiting family- thinking I’d never hear from her again, she messaged me a few weeks later saying she was visiting and we made plans to meet up (this was not the date). I met her family after dinner, we had drinks, and  eventually her family left and we walked around downtown. We really hit it off, and before I dropped her off at home, I asked if I could take her on a date next time she comes out this way. She said yes, and we’ve been texting every day since.

A week or so goes by and she has two days off, so I invite her to go fishing on my boat at night (we’re from Florida- it’s a great first date idea). I arrive at the boat ramp a little before her and I go to drop my boat in the water. I was wearing Hey Dudes (shoes marketed towards fishermen)- which basically have less traction than a wet bar of soap.  
 While dropping in, I slip and fall, and grab onto the boat. My body bends over backwards while my arm held on, and I hear it pop out of my shoulder. I use the last of my strength to pull myself upright, and I walk over to the Sewall so I can catch my breath. She walks up to find me swelling up and heavy breathing. I explain the situation to her and she does her best to console me. I was in so much pain I almost threw up. She’s a paramedic, but she wasn’t about to relocate my shoulder. So I stand up, march over to my truck, I slowly reach up to grab my roof and I reset my own shoulder at the boat ramp.

She was kind enough to come home with me and make sure I was okay. This is where I discovered that she’s a great kisser, and that my dog really likes her. We woke up in the morning, went to get breakfast, and then went to an Orthopedic. I texted her to apologize/thank her, and she was very sweet. Told me I had nothing to be sorry for, that she liked my house, my dog, my attitude, etc.

So far in 2026, my fiancé left me for another man, my best friend passed away, I dislocated my surgery now needing surgery, and several other significant challenges have befallen me. I write this post not to say ‘woe is me’, but to help others realize that bad things don’t only happen to them. I write this post so that other people out there have the chance to recognize that it’s all about how they handle and overcome adversity. If you are a man in distress, you are not alone- but it all starts with you. If I’m learning anything, it’s this.

I dislocated my shoulder on our first date 😊