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Bill Elliot
Friday, July 10, 1998 I had a blind date tonight. "Tom Crean" (not his real name, apparently an Irish Antarctic explorer) had contacted me from one of my yahoo personal ads not so long ago, and we'd exchanged some email. I wasn't expecting any grand romance, since he lives in Ireland and visits Seattle on business every now and then, but when he wrote that he'd be here this weekend, I agreed to get together with him. I had proposed a few things that I was already looking to do this weekend, but noted that I also had free time if he wanted to suggest an activity. He picked up on my mention of the Bill Elliot Orchestra at the Century Ballroom, so we decided to meet for dinner, then go to the Century for the dance lesson ("Tom" isn't a dancer) and the dance. I figured that even if he didn't enjoy struggling with the dance stuff, we could listen to the band. The restaurant I had originally picked for dinner turned out to be closed for renovations -- I hadn't called to book a table because "Tom's" plans were in flux -- so I met him on the sidewalk outside. "Tom" is about ten years older than me. He manages an engineering firm that does business in an industry that is prominent in this area of the country (not software). We walked across the street and up a block, to the Capitol Club, a restaurant I've eaten at a few times before. Previously I'd eaten at the bar on the second floor, but tonight we got a table in the first-floor dining room. During our conversation, I was shocked to learn that "Tom" is married! I had asked about family in our email, and he had mentioned brothers and sisters, but not a wife! But there we were. Since I'm not looking for a long-distance relationship, the existence of a wife didn't invalidate the whole evening, but I don't think I'd have agreed to a meeting if I'd known. Too tough to tell if she was aware of what's going on! To be fair to "Tom," he thought I had already figured his status out, or that he had already revealed it somehow. I was amused that despite the traveling opportunites "Tom" has had (all over Europe, Japan, the United States), novel and strange foods and experiences don't seem to be things that he enjoys. He was a bit dubious about the Mediterranean-fusion menu at the Capitol Club, and his descriptions of odd items on Japanese menus were not favorable. He doesn't make it a point to explore the cities where he spends longish periods of time, or visits regularly. This was his first visit to Capitol Hill, although he's been to Seattle before. He said his usual pattern is to arrange for work to fill the time, or just relax at the hotel.
We walked up the hill to the Century Ballroom, and arrived just in time for the dance lesson. I had purchased the tickets on Wednesday evening. There was a big crowd already, and I could tell it would be a warm evening. "Tom" was doing well in the beginning of the lesson, then we rotated partners and I was dancing a few people away. Hallie (who runs the ballroom and teaches dance there) picked me out of the crowd to demo with her, which pleased me. About halfway through, "Tom" went and sat down at our table, but that didn't concern me; I figured he'd had enough for right now. But when the lesson was over and the dance about to begin, I walked over to find him, and he said he was leaving! He was tired, from flying in the night before and working during the day, and the dancing wasn't his thing. Well! I could understand this, and I wasn't crushed. Counterbalancing my concern that I'd proposed an evening not to the taste of an invited guest: I knew I'd have a good time at the dance anyway. Looking back, I should have suggested just meeting for coffee or something, in the first place! The music was great! The Bill Elliot Orchestra is a true big band of fifteen musicians and four singers. I hadn't realized how many of the songs we love around here, and dance to every week, aren't old-time swing standards, but new Elliot compositions! The big band sound reminds me so much of the jazz band I played in in college. The instructor I had then, John Cryder, is still at James Madison University! I remember very well the care and patience he had with us (the second-level jazz band, not the top), working on numbers in great detail, until we really swung! Thanks, Dr. Cryder! Even though I'm not playing now, the musicality and love of jazz I learned then still affect my life now, or why am I so into swing dancing? The place was crowded and hot, enough so that I didn't mind sitting out for parts of the evening. I did do some dancing, especially towards the end of the night. When the dance was over, I asked Hallie where the lost-and-found was, since I'd a feeling that I'd left my fan at the ballroom on Wednesday. She told me where it was hiding, which made me wish I'd asked earlier, since I could have had my fan at the beginning of the evening, when I was really needing it!
After the band played their last encore, a group of us went down the street to the Baltic Room. This is a small elegant-looking bar, where Monty Banks plays on Friday nights. There isn't really a dance floor, but the space in the room can hold two or three couples, if they are careful and the people sitting on the side keep their feet out of the way. I got to dance here with favorite partners Joe Ross, "Cat Daddy" Chris Chapman, and Sterling. Folks have been going here late on Fridays for a while, but I hadn't joined them before. Usually I'm too tired! But I was invited by Dan and Zola, and I do like being included in groups. This was a night for remembering the past, because the late night atmosphere, being there past last call, standing on the sidewalk when they kicked us out, all reminded me of the restaurant job I had during the eighties, when we'd hang out far into the night. Not for every day now, but fun!
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