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Blind date: ‘We're both Irish — our ancestors are from the same county'

Blind date: ‘We're both Irish — our ancestors are from the same county'

Boston Globe09-05-2025
KEVEN H.:
74 / retired
When she is happiest:
When she's accomplished a daunting task, such as completing her taxes
What makes her a catch:
She's independent and active.
7:30 P.M. BAR 'CINO, BROOKLINE
Luck O' the Meetup
John
I picked out what to wear, then got my pants cleaned and ironed my shirt.
Keven
I got my hair highlighted that day, although the appointment had actually been scheduled prior.
John
I was very nervous. I even looked up conversation topics. I was a little early — I wanted to be first so she would not be waiting alone. She came a few minutes late.
Keven
He was on time. I purposely came about five minutes late because I did not want to be sitting there by myself if he was a no-show.
John
I saw her walking toward me with the hostess. I thought she was quite pretty.
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Keven
He appeared to be around my age. He was neat, casually dressed, an all-around regular guy.
Shared Roots
John
We talked about sending the info to the Globe, the application, and then we looked over the menu.
Keven
We talked about where we lived, work we had done, and what we were planning to order. We are both retired, and both went to college in Boston.
John
We had similar life stories; we were in different colleges at about the same time. We talked about jobs we had, where we grew up, schools we attended. Before we found our real jobs, I was a bartender, and she was a cocktail waitress. We both reviewed medical records in our real jobs, me as a paralegal and she as a disability coordinator.
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Keven
We're both Irish — our ancestors are from the same county, and had the same last name.
John
I felt very comfortable with her and more so as the night wore on.
Keven
I felt comfortable enough from the beginning, which lasted throughout the date.
John
We shared two appetizers, meatballs and roasted carrots. For entrees I had a roasted chicken panini. We shared a piece of lemon cake for dessert.
Keven
The food was good and plentiful.
Related
:
County Connection
John
We looked around and noticed we were among the last people present. So, we both thought we should leave.
Keven
[We] noticed at the end of the date, we were the last customers in the room.
John
She had arrived using the T, so I offered her a ride home. She declined and said she wanted to walk. I walked with her a short way to my car. When we got to my car, we kept talking. I asked if she would like to do something again. She said yes. We exchanged contact info, then I hugged her and gave her a kiss on her cheek.
Keven
I continued to walk up Beacon Street to go home. He initiated a good-night hug.
Second Date?
John
Yes, I hope to go on another date, because I enjoyed myself.
Keven
To be determined. We took each other's phone numbers but there's been no contact.
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Grading the Date
John
/ A+
Keven
/ B+
Go on a blind date.
We'll pick up the tab. Fill out an application at
. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @dinnerwithcupid.
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