The Hazards of Dating Online

My sister and I were having coffee one day and she couldn't help but talk non-stop about a wonderful man she met on the internet. Steve was from Northern New Jersey and would ride his motorcycle down to see her every weekend, riding almost 100 miles each way. We joked and discussed what I would say, and next thing you know, I'm signing up.

Online dating has become the singles bars of the 21st century. You can literally pick your next date out by height, weight, hair etc... it's like building the perfect man. But there in no such thing a perfect, everything has a flaw.

Not to say I'm that big of a prize. I'm almost 6' tall, which puts fear into most men 5'10" and under. I am over thirty and never married so I generalized standards that makes me a freak, and I will never be a size 2. I have two little dogs that run my life. But for the most part, I am smart, attractive and I dress up nice.

The First date

I started talking to this guy, Mike. (Names have been changed to protect the stupid.) He was my first online wink and he had a great profile. Dark hair and eyes, 6' tall and athletic. Great Job, wants a family and "looking to meet his one and only." I read his profile and thought "Wow, I hit the jackpot on my first try!"

We talked online at first then we started instant messaging. I was starry eyed, every time I received an instant message I pictured our future together with this photo and me. We decided to meet at a local restaurant and he said he would be at the bar. I get there, a little late, because I am a woman and that is expected of us. When I walked in I was looking for my Mr. Right, but he wasn't there. There was a man, about fifteen years older than his picture, receding hair line, beer gut, and major razor stubble. He didn't get off his barstool, but call it women's intuition, he didn't look too tall.

All I could think of was where my Mike was. This was a cruel joke. He obviously sent someone in his place to see my reaction. I kept looking around to see if he would pop out of a corner and say "Just kidding." Never happened. So I decided to make the best of it and have dinner.