One Final Checklist

The best way to appear casual and relaxed is to have done your homework.
The Boy Scouts are right: Be prepared. Preparation creates calm and security. There’s nothing like knowing you have it all under control and the bases are covered. Conversely, what’s more anxiety producing than being caught short? Besides, preparation is the realm of grown-ups. Only little kiddies frantically dash around at the last minute trying to tie up loose ends. To not only appear grown-up but to be way cool:

• Know where you’re going.
• Know how to get there.
• Make sure you have enough gas.
• Know how much (more or less) thing are going to cost.
• Make sure you have enough money.
• Make sure you have $20 tucked somewhere for emergencies.
• Make sure your watch is working.
• Check the following:
• Breath
• Teeth
• Wallet
• Condom (always be prepared!)
• Pits
• Wardrobe
• Baby-sitter (when appropriate)
• Curfew (when appropriate)
• Calendar (make sure you’ve got the right day, date, and time)
• Date’s phone number (for emergency traffic snarls, lost directions, and so on)
• Date’s address
• Tickets (for time and date)

Fellas, if you want to win a huge number of points, make sure you always have two clean, ironed handkerchiefs on hand. You can buy them very cheaply at street fairs or discount stores. Keep a bunch around because nothing will stun a woman more than offering her a clean, white, pressed, unscented handkerchief when she gets something in her eye or when she’s crying at a movie. You instantly become the man. Tissues will not work.