Date Lab He has a startling
confession to make Lauren Homer, 65, international lawyer Phillip Grace, 68, professor, artist, playwright
DATING HISTORY AS TV SHOW ... Lauren: Attractive, busy lawyer meets intriguing and attractive men, and they fall madly in love. Things do not work out, or they eventually reveal some facts about themselves that are total deal-breakers. She turns back to work and friends and has various adventures. Phillip: I was a virginal youth who married his childhood sweetheart. Being single for the fi rst time at 37 with three children was a stunner. The parade of women from then to now has been a real trip. One friend introduced me to someone who kept parakeets in her hair. On another date, after dinner the lady asked if I wanted some coke. As straight as I was, I thought she meant Coke. The tales are many.
INTERVIEWS BY STEPHEN LOWMAN
7:30 p.m., The Oval Room, Downtown Phillip: I know from reading previous Date Labs that people are very anxious before the date. They’re usually younger people. When you are 67 years old and have been around the block a few times, you’re really not anxious. I was feeling great about it. Lauren: I was somewhat nervous as I was driving into the city. I was about fi ve minutes early. As I was walking up to the door of the restaurant, Phil was walking up to the door of the restaurant. Of course, I didn’t know it was him. He held the door, and we walked in. The host said, “Is this a
She describes herself as independent, ambitious and a
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table for two?” and I said, “Actually, I’m meeting someone.” Phil put out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Phil.” I said, “I’m Lauren.” Phillip: She is an attractive woman. And when we sat down and started talking, she came across as highly intelligent. She wasn’t all about herself, either. She wanted to know about me, too. Lauren: He’s tall. He has a beard. He is attractive. We sat down and just started talking about all these different things. We never stopped talking the whole night. It felt like we’d known each other for a long time. Early on he said something like, “Well, I know I’m going to see you again.” It was nice, because after that I didn’t have to worry, like, Oh, I wonder what he is thinking about me? We have a tremendous amount in common. I was kind of astonished at all these little links.
Phillip: If you could have listened to our conversation, you would have heard me going, “Blah blah blah,”
8 THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 12, 2010
DREAM DATE ... Lauren: Successful and mature businessman/politician/head of humanitarian or mission organization who is ready to kick back a bit and enjoy life. Someone who is very intelligent, kind and compassionate, adventuresome, fearless, attractive and winsome. Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Phillip: I met Diane Sawyer once way back when she worked at the White House. She would have been my perfect date. Move over, Mike Nichols!
and then she’d say, “You’re kidding! I have, too!” Then she’d say, “I do such and such,” and I’d go, “You’re kidding! I do, too!” I thought we were twins separated [at] birth or something. Lauren: He’s written a play, and he’s written an opera. He became a really rather excellent artist who does portrait paintings. I was an art history major in college and come from a family with a number of artists. He’s active in his church; I’m active in my church. Phillip: We talked about all the places we have traveled. At one point, I said, “I have a confession to make. What is the worst thing you think I could confess?” She paused and said, “That you smoke.”
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