Should I ask my postman out for Valentine’s Day?

When I blogged recently about wanting a date for Valentine’ s Day, that sassy Ms Single Mama told me to “get back out there!”

She suggested that I keep my “eye out for single guys at the coffee shop, in the park – wherever.”

Easy enough. But when Ms Single Mama also suggested that I try out “a great pick-up line,” like, “You’re adorable! Do you have a date for Valentine’s Day?” — I panted.

Just re-reading this now makes my heart pound with fear. Sure, I’m known to be bold (and Ms Single Mama claims that “Men love being asked out!”), but approaching a hot stranger without warning? Is she serious?

Still, Ms Single Mama got me thinking. About my new Postman.

I’ve had a P.O. box for two years , so I know everyone who works there. Not to sound harsh or anything, but postal workers can be a bit disgruntled. I always try to say “hi” in my warmest voice, and I have my favorite gals by now (did I say that all the clerks are women?)

A few weeks ago, I walked in and saw Him.

First off, it was enough to simply notice a man behind the counter. But he wasn’t just any man. He was a young guy with these big, open, sincere brown eyes and chocolate skin.

I slowed down. When I looked up, he was looking at me. I quickly turned my eyes down and raced to my P.O. Box.

What a fluke, I thought. He was probably covering somebody on sick leave — just for the day. But a few days later, there he was, again — and this time I needed to pick up “overflow” (I have the smallest box and all my mail won’t fit).

“Pick ups?” he said.

You can pick me up anytime, darling.

I meant, yes, me. I walked to the counter at the same time as an older man with a beard. The Postman took both of our Overflow slips.

When the Postman came back, he handed a stack of mail to the bearded man — and he gave me a few envelopes. That’s when the bearded man started to go through the stack, and realized that he had my mail.

The Postman said, “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said (but, really, I was thinking, “You must be a virgin here?”)

Last Friday, I went to the post office at 5 p.m. and it was terrible time because of the crowd. The three female postal clerks were there — but not Him.

I had two Overflow notices — to pick up all the books I’ve been giving away — so I got a number and waited. All of a sudden, He appeared.

“Pick ups, anyone?”

I handed him my little slip. He smiled, turned around, and promptly tripped over a box on the floor.

“Careful!” I said, trying not to laugh.

He came back a few minutes later with a few packages. “Your ID,” he said.

My ID?” I said. “No one asks for my ID, but sure–”

He looked right at me, and I wish right then, I’d pulled out my card — with my phone number. But I got shaky-nervous.

“Oh,” I said. “You need my ID because you gave my mail to that guy the other day, right?”

“You remember that?” he said.

“Of course,” I said.

Then he looked right into my eyes, and said in a whisper, “It’s your eyes, I just can’t look at them.”

“You can’t?” I turned red. First, I couldn’t believe I was hearing what he was saying. And second, he was just inches away from two tired postal clerks who surely heard him.

“They’re just so — wow.”

I wanted to say, “Go, ahead, look all you want. Are you getting off work right now?”

But I was so flustered, and of course, I couldn’t dare go out. I was on my way to pick up M.

“Uh,” I said. “I’ll try not to look at your eyes, if that helps–”

~~~
Help me out here: what should I do?

Have you ever asked a stranger on a date, out of the blue?

Should I approach him? Write him a note? Or, is this all crazy?

(Are you even legally allowed to ask your Postman out?)

P.S. I’ve run this by a few of my single mom friends, who dare me to ask him out. My friend, Siobhan, says, “Imagine all the stamps–”

© 2007 USPS. All Rights Reserved.

Read the book! Single Mom Seeking is a tell-all about how to date and remain a dedicated and involved parent. It’s a spunky, sexy, and moving chronicle of the humor, pitfalls, and rewards of balancing it all — single-mom style.

Tagged as: ask a man out, date, Dating, Favorite Bloggers, Friends, get back out there, Men, pick up, postman, Sex, single men, Single Mom Dating, Single Moms, stamps, stranger, U.S. Postal Service, Valentine's Day