A Match made on Match

Match.com that is.

As open and honest as I am on most days, or more like every day, I have not told many people one tid-bit about my life over the last few months. Besides the whole quarter life crisis that led to a decision to go back to school and move to Portland. But I already came clean about that one.

Yes, I joined an online dating site. I allowed the internet to do my match making for me. Scary, right? Yes and no. Some of it was a little strange, some of it was fun. I met some great guys, met some interesting guys, met some guys that are trying way too hard, some that should try a little harder, and some that aren't paying much attention to what a girl is looking for. If you are 50, you are outside of my age range, and the same age as my dad. Why don't you talk to him about dating his daughter? Seriously.

Speaking of my dad, he was the one that suggested I give online dating a try. After picking my jaw up off the floor when I heard those words come out of his mouth, I protested the idea. And made it very clear that I did not need to resort to the internet for a date. Just yet. But in his defense, I was going through a breakup at the time and I'm sure he was only trying to help.

But when he suggested it again a few months later I started to wonder if he really was convinced I needed to consult with a team of relationship specialists that spend hours pouring over the profiles of the less fortunate single people like myself that just couldn't get it figured out on their own, matching people with their soul mates. Because I'm sure that's how it's done right? Based on some of the gents I was matched with, I highly doubt that is how it's done.

And obviously I gave in and decided to give it a shot. Or maybe I was just jilted by another failed relationship and thought at the very least I could give myself something to do. Being bored is an excellent reason to sign up for a dating site, it instantly gives you something to do. And plenty of people to talk to. Okay, so that's probably not the best reason, don't tell them I said that.

Out of all the guys I emailed, chatted with, texted, and talked on the phone with, I only met two. The first one didn't work out, but I am happy to have met him. He is a great guy, I hope some lucky girl finds him soon. The second one I completely blew off and didn't meet until months later.

It was near the end of October and I had been talking to and fighting off men I had met on Match for almost a month. I mean that in the very least vain way possible, if that is possible. It was growing old and I suddenly felt like the Bachelorette. I couldn't keep track of who I was emailing, who I was texting, who I was calling, who I was supposed to see on Thursday and then on Friday and who the heck was calling me from the 425 number or the 360 number. It was getting a little crazy. Even for me. I realized the fun of having multiple people interested in you was a novelty that was quick to wear off.

It was then that I met Craig. I honestly don't remember who contacted each other first. But we talked a little back and forth on the website, then exchanged phone numbers, and then made plans for our first date. He seemed like a nice guy, not someone I didn't trust giving my address to. And we had similar interests, such as hunting and being outdoors. Plus we could talk to each other easily enough over the phone.

And it was then that I blew Craig off. For someone else. Someone that I didn't meet on a dating website. Someone that I had dated before and had just come back into the picture. There was no guarantee that things would work out a second time around with so-and-so...but he was familiar to me. I already knew him and didn't have to worry about a blind date with someone I had met online. And after all the texts, phone calls, emails, and winks (a wink is way of letting someone know you are interested in them on Match) I was getting a little tired of the online dating game. So I kindly told Craig I was seeing someone else and removed my Match profile.

Almost two months later and I was still single. My hopeful attempt at second, or third, times the charm with that one guy didn't go as planned. Although this time around I was just fine with that. Realizing that we were better as friends and I was fine to be on my own, without any Match dates, I decided to just focus on myself and enjoy my last few months in Pullman before moving to Portland. I did not want a date, a boyfriend, or anything of that nature.

But life never really goes how you plan it, does it? I just couldn't help thinking about the guy that did want to go on a date with me that I blew off for the guy that didn't want to date me. Why do us women do that? Finally, I decided to text him. I wasn't interested in dating him, I just wanted to apologize. Why do us women also do that? Always feel the need to apologize, even to people we've never met face to face.

He had deleted my number. I don't blame him. After I told him who I was, we started catching up a little bit. And before I knew it, I had a date again. A date that should have happened two months ago.

We chose to go cut down a Christmas tree for my apartment. Before I could let myself get nervous, I had to figure out what to wear. Duh. Here was my dilemma: Does a girl look her best, without concerning herself with proper tree cutting attire? Or does she do the opposite? Dress for a walk in the woods and not care about the first date impression. Who do I want to be? "Fashion forward" Erica or "I Hunt and Like Spending Time in the Woods and am Not Afraid to Get Dirty" Erica? I decided to be myself. Which is a combination of both. I wore a cute, new top with cute, new jeans, my cowboy boots, and a vest to keep me warm. He later said I looked gorgeous. Awww. :)

It's a good thing I spotted my perfect Christmas tree within five minutes and we were back in the truck within ten. I really didn't want to ruin those new jeans.

It was the perfect first date. Almost as good as the perfect second date we had the next day. I'm not quite sure he believed me when I said I loved it, so I'll say it again. I loved the nearly two hour drive down to the Grand Ronde river where we walked, hiked, talked, and sat on a hill in a canyon, enjoying a beautiful, sunny day and watching the river below and the picture-perfect scenery around us. I knew then that this guy was definitely someone very special.

Craig, who I may refer to as "Mountain Man" in my posts, because he truly is a man that loves the outdoors and would probably spend most of his free time out in the wilderness, alone, hunting and watching wildlife, living off of nothing, and enjoying it.  I completely admire him for this. I just won't let him plan the vacations.

I'm not sure I would suggest online dating to everyone. If you do find yourself sifting through profiles on Match.com or another similar site, just remember to have fun with it. And always trust your gut and be safe. I knew there was a reason why I couldn't get the guy I blew off and never met out of my head.

So I guess the internet is good for some things. It brought the world facebook. And it brought me my Mountain Man.

"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."