I know, the title of this article sounds unusual. More often we would expect a woman to be late for her dates. But I know a couple where the man is always late to his dates. They are a Ukrainian woman and a man from France. She asked me not to publicize their names, but they agreed to have this little interview published for wide audience. In this article, I'll call her Anna and him Jean, though these are not their real names.

My French is not good enough to understand all the tiny tricks of the conversational language, but I understood that Jean and Anna have developed a great connection, where they understand and "sense" each other's feelings, attitudes and emotions with just a sort glance into each other's eyes.  A couple like this must have gone through a big history of controversial relationship, with ups and downs, with "cloud nine" moments and disappointments, and even with periods of separation and breaks.

"This is all true. We do have ups and downs now and then, - says Anne. - This is because I am very well-disciplined and Jean is very inconsistend by his nature.  I hate when things are not dine on time, but he never does anything timely. At the same time, he is very creative and I am all logical."

Jean: "This is true. Anne cannot understand how I could be late for a date, when I really treasure her. I try to show all signs of attention to her but I probably do this in my own way. We had lots of problems with it in the beginning of our relationship. She wanted me to be a "perfect guy" - you know- to always wear a tie, to have a long-stemmed rose in my hands at each date, and to come to the place 15 minutes before the time, and to have a table reserved at a dinner place well in advance. But this is not my style, really."

Anna: Instead of all this, he always turns everything upside down: he wears loose jeans and boyish clothes, and he never cares what people'd say if they looked at us... Ah, let me tell you a story. It happened on one of our first dates. I came to a cafe in his street, where we'd agreed to meet. It was right after my working day - I work in a perfume store - I was tired and wanted a slow, warm and romantic talk in a quiet place. As he did not come to the cafe on time, I called to his cell phone but he did not pick it up, so after a while I started to grow worried and decided to walk up to his apartment to see if he was there. I rang at the door and after quite a long wait I heard footsteps behind the door, and then the door opened. There he was, standing in the doorway, wearing only his shorts and slippers, uncombed, sleepy and apparently looking as if my ring just woke him up... What could I do? - I just ran downstairs without saying a word.

I rushed home with my eyes full of tears, for I felt very humiliated. When I came to my door, I saw him sitting on a step, having an absolutely gorgeous, huge bouquet of lilies in his hands. He did not smile to me, and he did not look sorry or embarrassed about falling asleep instead of meeting me in the cafe. He just casually said the most unsuitable thing for this moment: "When I was asleep, I had you in my dream, we were eating lozagnia and I was taking pictures of you. Where do they cook good lozagnia in this city?"

Jean: She looked so beautiful that night. She is always beautiful, and, being an artist, I can't miss a moment to draw her. I kept drawing her all day, and then I took a nap before going to meet her... You know, I was all obsessed with feelings, I felt like throwing all the world to her feet. Does it really matter what you are wearing at the moment when you throw your life to a woman's feet?

Anna: We had our first fight that night. It was not about him sleeping down, it was because I wanted to take the lillies to the restaurant with me, but he wanted to leave them at home. I the end we had our food delivered to my home, and he took humdreds of pictures of me with those lilies. NOw, when I remember that day, I think it could not be more romantic, and I can't be angry at him. He has a gift of turning his failures into his merits."

Well, after this story I asked this couple to make up a list of advice to other men and women who may be late for their date. Anna was short: Do something outrageous, and possibly your Russian woman will forgive you" Jean said: You can be late for a date, but you shouldn't forget to have your camera with you; Russian women are so beautiful when they are angry at their men!"