Preppy

So I signed up on an online dating site. I figured at the very least it would be interesting and truthfully I don't see myself getting over my "I am making this face so that you don't approach me and waste both our time" attitude when I am out. I found a cute, recent picture, answered the questions as honestly as possible, hit submit and I was done.

Within an hour my inbox was full with messages from would-be suitors. Okay, I thought, I've never been here before. The cool thing about meeting online is that you have their basic information right in front of you so if you see something that you don't like(e.g. I'm a professional goat herder, I live with my mother), you don't have to wait until the third date to find out...you simply hit delete. Why isn't everything this simple?

One of my online boys has actually made it to the 3rd date...pretty impressive. I call him Preppy. On our first date we met at a bar. He was clearly nervous but unwound after a short while. Second was dinner where the food was great, the conversation flowed and there were lots of laughs.

For our date the other night, he said he would like to cook dinner for me at his apartment. I was a little hesitant to go, I have to admit, but he had been nothing but sweet so far. So I put 911 on speed dial, tucked a sharp object into my handbag and headed over to his place.

The dinner was great. He was polite and funny mentioning that he did not cook very often but wanted to do something a little special. He also opened a bottle of wine that is one of my favorites. When I mentioned that it was a favorite, he said I had already told him and that's why he picked it up. We sat and ate and talked and drank and laughed and when it was over he walked me to my cab and said goodnight. He even followed up with a phone call to make sure I got home safely.

Of all of the things Preppy did right, the most important was letting me know that he has every intention of pursuing me. He single handedly restored my faith in a generation of men who have been taught to play aloof...to be a little too cool for school. Now I don't want someone falling all over me BUT I am worth pursuing and if a man wants to see me then he will show me that he thinks so too.

...and for all of the men online that continue to send me messages saying, "I am intrigued. Feel free to contact me." Please stop. You're making my skin itch.