[1]My friend, William, is fearless when it comes to blind dating. I’m in awe of his technique. He casts a wide net, checking out almost everyone who shows interest, with his usual optimism, “You meet for an hour. How bad could it be?” (He’s also successful at it, and by successful I mean, he has been in a loving relationship for over two years now, with someone he met that way.)
I wish I could be so blasé. Before a blind date, I feel like I’m on my way to the gallows, about to throw up. The odd part is, I’m a natural schmoozer, ordinarily very comfortable swapping small talk with people I’ve just met.
But there’s something particular about the blind date, with its built-in expectations of “maybe he’s the one,” along with preemptive frustration about being disappointed AGAIN (or worse, disappointing) that makes me want to sidestep the whole business entirely, and stay home cuddling with Rose [2].
What about you? Do you have blind-date phobia?
(Illustration by Nicole Maloof [1])