I hate dating. No, really. I hate it with a passion. Who likes getting all dressed to impress someone you barely know, make awkward conversation, share a meal/movie/walk/other-sufficiently-awkward-dating-experience, pretend to be interested, and then call it a night with yet another moment of "awkwardness". Do you hug each other good bye? Kiss? Shake hands? What really is the most appropriate amount of time to wait between the first date and the next time you communicate?
I have to share a story with the blogging world, just because, well it'll either scare the hell out of some of you, give you a good laugh while thinking "That poor unfortunate girl", bring you back to the painful days of dating, a combination of the above, or well you just won't care. Either way, I'm sharing to make my point.
I recently met a guy through mutual friends. He was local, a native Montanan (always a plus for me, I love this state), older, mature. Well, we talked for a few days via text messaging and talking on the phone a bit. My first impression was a fairly good one.... He was a little excessive with the texting, but I chalked it up to over excitement.
Well, the day came when we decided to meet. We (meaning I) kept it simple and met at a local restaurant for some early dinner (working nights I have a slightly squirly schedule). The date went really well, even though it was pretty painful (for me) at parts. I'm actually very good a keeping idle conversation going for the sake of avoiding awkward moments of silence. He's a very interesting individual. He's done a lot, seen a lot, fairly intelligent person. Ok, ok, I'll admit he is very easy on the eyes too! I loved the fact that he is two years older than me, and very mature (so far). I'm pretty over dating guys that are younger than me and/or my age. Its never gone anywhere except dead ends. He is looking in the same direction as I am in terms of getting married and having a family. However.......... this guys wants it yesterday. That's my way of saying this guy came on a little strong.... and by a little strong I mean he is practically my cyber shadow. My phone has blown up with text messages and phone calls from him. Seriously. After our date, he asked me what I was going to do and I said was planning on going over to my sisters for a little while. Minutes after we said good bye I received a text message. He told me what a great time he had and thanks. Ok, I can deal with this, it was sweet and I expected that to be the end of it for at least the day or maybe a few. I have never been more wrong in my life. In. My. Life. This fella kept at. About 20 minutes later I received a text message asking me if I was still at my sisters. Um yea. I chose not to respond. He knew I was there, and still texted me? I figured if he didn't get a response too that he would figure it out on his own, that yea I was still at my sisters. Talking. To her. Once again, I was wrong. (Lets hope this recent trend of me being wrong fades by the time Anatomy and Physiology start for the school year!) About 15 minutes after that text I receive yet another, don't ask me what it said because they all blur together now. I ,yet again, choose to not respond ( I haven't even opened the darn things on my phone, so they are just piling up like the proverbial junk mail pile at home (or bill pile which ever floats your boat). At this point I am wondering what this guys deal is. He reminds me of a clinging toddler, I have a toddler and he isn't anywhere near this clinging/needy. I'm losing my patience now, you would think that after sending me 6, yup that's right, 6 unanswered text messages in the last hour and a half someone would get the point. Are you waiting for the punch line? Oh you are? Ok, well here it is...... it doesn't stop there. No, the man calls me! Calls me after sending me 6 text messages only a mere hour and a half after our FIRST date, none of which I have even replied to. Are you as overwhelmed as I was yet? At this point I have, have to leave to go to work. I get to work and the messages keep pouring in. Its driving me to the edge I tell ya. I even had a mini melt down to my coworker/friend. Now those of you that know me can attest that I am a nice person. I am thoughtful, tactful, empathetic (nursing school anyone?), trustworthy, honest....... but good gravy! It continues through the night and I'm starting to wonder if this guy ever sleeps or if he keeps odd hours like me or if he is just forcing himself to stay away just to stare at all the unanswered text messages hes sent to me. If I was him, I would be ashamed of myself. Humiliated to say the least. I had to have a come to Jesus meeting with him early that morning. I am not a co-depended person at all and do not do well with the checking in/constant texting business. And egad man, we just met and had one date. I am not going to marry you or even make an official announcement that I have a new boyfriend. And stop putting xoxox's after some of your texts to me, its not cute right now, its creepy.
Well, hes not a very fast learner..... he has eased up a bit. But I sleep during the day and he knew this. DO NOT TEXT ME. Its not sweet, its maddening. Especially when you work 10-11 hours over night and have to sleep in the the sweltering heat and middle of the day. I got several "I'm thinking about you" text messages. Oh really? Are you thinking about the fact that I'm SLEEPING. Obviously not a concept that he is grasping and our little come to sweet Jesus meeting didn't have the impact I intended to have on him. So, here I am and the crossroads of Bitch and Freaked Out. I think the series of unfortunate events is a blazing red flag to run, run far and fast.
So, my tale of dating woes is at an end, for now...........
