Seniors Ryan Harvel and Madison Wineman return for a nostalgic date
Crimson Newsmagazine’s pseudo-romantic Blind Date project had never returned daters to the scene of their date in its 15-year history, so in an attempt to find a fresh new idea, I turned to something old: a date set up almost three years ago.
Between bites of food, seniors Madison Wineman and Ryan Harvel poked fun at one another and talked about everything from sports to parties as I sat nearby and documented the fun. They had returned to Odyssey World Café on a Sunday evening to relive their first Crimson blind date from freshman year.
Wineman and I had arrived first on January 29. Wineman grabbed a chair at a table set for two, and we waited patiently for her supposed mystery date. After looking at the blindfolds at her seat, a hint at the fun that would ensue, she confessed that she already knew who the date was with. Unbeknownst to me, Harvel had told her earlier in the week. This seemed like a perfect way to start off their throwback night, however, because the same thing had happened freshman year. Wineman wasn’t sure who told her, but she knew she wasn’t surprised last time either. Luckily, there was going to be more to the date than met the eye. |
When Harvel finally arrived -- 12 minutes late but five minutes earlier than Wineman’s bet of 7:17 -- he took a seat and moved his blindfold off of his menu. To his dismay, he learned that, before he was allowed to order, he must fulfill the “blind” part of the date, since he had ruined it beforehand. So the two seniors put on mandatory blindfolds and both were tasked with making a tower of plastic cups.
Harvel completed his tower in a 10 seconds, while Wineman finished in 12.
Harvel completed his tower in a 10 seconds, while Wineman finished in 12.
“It looks pretty good,” Wineman admitted after peeking out from under her blindfold at her date’s tower. After completing her own, however, Wineman decided that hers was superior.
Anxious to eat with blindfolds still on, they asked if their challenge was over, but instead were greeted with the daunting task of working together for the final tower. After strategizing, they determined that Harvel would place the bottom three cups, and Wineman would balance the top three.
Their team time clocked in at around three times longer than their individual times, as Harvel messed with Wineman and moved the cups as she tried to stack them. Once their tower was complete, the cups were moved and their menus were opened as they searched for a desirable meal.
While at first Wineman suggested they get the same meals as their freshman date, she quickly changed her mind.
“I kind of want steak,” she said.
“Now we’re talking, Madison,” Harvel agreed, as he realized his dinner was, in fact, being paid for. The two ordered the exact same meal: steak, medium rare, with mashed potatoes. The only difference was their choice of sides, as Wineman decided on a Caesar salad and Harvel ordered a plate of fries.
As they waited, they talked about their weekends and Wineman’s upcoming 18th birthday. Their conversation was easy and carefree as they caught up with each other.
Soon, their server, Oscar Gutierrez, a Paso High senior, brought Wineman’s salad and breadsticks for the pair to share. Harvel touched all the bread before deciding not to eat it. Wineman scolded him for touching it all and commented on how picky he was.
Anxious to eat with blindfolds still on, they asked if their challenge was over, but instead were greeted with the daunting task of working together for the final tower. After strategizing, they determined that Harvel would place the bottom three cups, and Wineman would balance the top three.
Their team time clocked in at around three times longer than their individual times, as Harvel messed with Wineman and moved the cups as she tried to stack them. Once their tower was complete, the cups were moved and their menus were opened as they searched for a desirable meal.
While at first Wineman suggested they get the same meals as their freshman date, she quickly changed her mind.
“I kind of want steak,” she said.
“Now we’re talking, Madison,” Harvel agreed, as he realized his dinner was, in fact, being paid for. The two ordered the exact same meal: steak, medium rare, with mashed potatoes. The only difference was their choice of sides, as Wineman decided on a Caesar salad and Harvel ordered a plate of fries.
As they waited, they talked about their weekends and Wineman’s upcoming 18th birthday. Their conversation was easy and carefree as they caught up with each other.
Soon, their server, Oscar Gutierrez, a Paso High senior, brought Wineman’s salad and breadsticks for the pair to share. Harvel touched all the bread before deciding not to eat it. Wineman scolded him for touching it all and commented on how picky he was.
“He doesn’t like burgers. Have you ever met someone who doesn’t like burgers?” Wineman asked me.
As she ate her salad, the two continued to chat about the biggest changes in their lives since their first date.
“Before today I was thinking, ‘think of all we’ve been through since freshman year,’” Harvel said. Wineman’s first thought was that she no longer had braces, and Harvel wasn’t as small as before.
After commenting on changes in appearance and other minor details, Harvel noted that he had a feeling Wineman knew her date was him freshman year.
“You told me too freshman year,” Wineman said.
“I didn’t know you then, Madison, this is how we met,” Harvel argued. Wineman settled with his response and decided that someone else must have told her.
The two agreed that, since their first blind date, they had become close friends. Wineman stated that finding things to talk about was hard because she knew so much about Harvel.
“Before today I was thinking, ‘think of all we’ve been through since freshman year,’” Harvel said. Wineman’s first thought was that she no longer had braces, and Harvel wasn’t as small as before.
After commenting on changes in appearance and other minor details, Harvel noted that he had a feeling Wineman knew her date was him freshman year.
“You told me too freshman year,” Wineman said.
“I didn’t know you then, Madison, this is how we met,” Harvel argued. Wineman settled with his response and decided that someone else must have told her.
The two agreed that, since their first blind date, they had become close friends. Wineman stated that finding things to talk about was hard because she knew so much about Harvel.
“Ryan is probably the person I’ve fought with the most out of everyone in my life… We don’t always argue, we just bicker a lot,” she said.
More small talk ensued, as the pair tried to remember each other's middle names. Harvel had no problem recalling Wineman’s, but it took a hint for her to remember his. Their chatter bounced from topic to topic, as they bickered about what counted as flirting, told stories about their lives, and waited patiently for their meals.
Luckily, their food soon arrived. Wineman started with her vegetables as Harvel went straight for the ribeye in the center of his plate. After a short discussion over whether to cut with or against the grain, the two were eating contentedly. A few minutes into their meals, they realized they never got drinks from the self-serve soda machine. Wineman settled for an iced tea, while Harvel went up the the counter to request a glass of milk. |
Wineman explained to me that Harvel didn’t drink soda, which is something she had learned on their very first date.
Their server brought out Harvel’s glass of milk with a quizzical look on his face.
Their server brought out Harvel’s glass of milk with a quizzical look on his face.
“What’s this for?” Gutierrez asked.
“For me,” Harvel replied.
“For what?”
“To drink.”
“With your ribeye? And your fries? Oh my God; that’s disgusting,” Gutierrez said as Wineman laughed.
While they finished the last bites of their meal, they talked about their respective sports, baseball and soccer. Soon, they decided they were ready for the most anticipated part of their meal: the cheesecake.
The cheesecake was delivered to their table and their blindfolds went back on, but not before Harvel had snuck the first bite. They tried their best to feed each other the dessert, as Harvel listened to where Wineman’s voice was coming from and she appeared to simply guess where his mouth was. After accomplishing their blindfolded cheesecake feeding, they removed their blindfolds and finished off their dessert.
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When the date was complete, they realized it had turned out exactly as they had hoped: a friendly dinner with arguing and conversation as they got to relive the first time they met. The two parted ways similar to before, bonding over cheesecake and games.