Blind Dating

 

I have been on seven blind dates in the past four years. This is not including group outings where a friend brought along a friend for me to meet, but rather true dates with people that I was meeting for the very first time. Two of these were the fruition of match.com chatting and the other five were set up via friends.

None of these relationships have gone beyond two dates. None of these dates have been particularly fun. I am still hoping, however, that Mr. Right will make his way into my life, so I am reluctant to turn down an opportunity to meet someone new. There is always the chance that today’s blind date could be tomorrow’s boyfriend.  All of the men that I have gone on blind dates have seemed relatively normal. Many of them have fit the standard “wants” that are on my list.  I don’t think that I can fault my own judgment or that of my friends’ for these dates not turning into relationships.  Rather, I think it can be blamed on the general premise of a blind date and the pressure that comes along with it.

 

Blind dates should really just be called “Hang Out Time with a Stranger”. There is (for me) none of the excited anticipation that comes along with a “sighted” first date.  I lack the initial “like” of the person and that is what leads to all the wonderful tummy butterflies before a date.  With a sighted date, you have so many hopes set on a particular person.  With the exception of a few emails or phone conversations, I have nothing on which to base my perception of this person.  There is too much pressure to go from stranger to significant other.