On Match.com, What Are They Thinking?
Actual content:
“Deeply narcissistic, exaggerated sense of self-importance, and stunningly shallow. (I know: I had you at “Hello.”) Kidding aside…. “
Eraser, 1967, by Vija Celmins
Vintage Marriage Fantasy
(Countdown to CONTEST. Last week to enter.)
Here’s a marriage fantasy from one man’s point of view, who happens to be a poet:
Retro Moment
Having arrived early for a lunch date with a friend, I waited in the car, catching up on the Home section of the NY Times. I was absorbed by a hand-carved shelf, thinking it would be perfect in my dining room (except for its $12,000 price tag), when I heard a rap on the window. My friend had spotted me on her way to the restaurant. There I was, caught, as the last person in L.A. reading a hard copy of the newspaper. I have got to move on.
Enter our CONTEST.
Illustration by Brent Couchman
Finding Exuberance in the Small Stuff
A handyman just installed a lighted makeup mirror on the wall of my bathroom, and fixed a slow drain in my sink. Oh joy! Speaking of which, check out Jump, an exhilarating book of photos (including this one of Eva Marie Saint) by Philippe Halsman. It’ll make you smile.
Get Wild: A Contest!
I haven’t done a book giveaway in awhile, but now I’m inspired by Wild, a great memoir by Cheryl Strayed, about her solo journey on the Pacific Crest Trail. You will want this in your collection.
It got me to thinking about the rewards of getting out of your comfort zone. Here’s the CONTEST: Tell us one thing you’ll do in April to make you uncomfortable. It doesn’t need to be physically brave. It can be as simple as trying something new from your favorite take-out place, calling a friend you haven’t seen for awhile, running an extra mile, or, finally getting back on a dating site. (That last one is me, talking to me.) Submit your entry using the Comments section. Include your first name. (If you win, we’ll need a U.S. shipping address and contact info.) Enter as often as you like. Deadline: April 13, 2012.
Who Gets You?
When my Dad was alive, I’d look forward to Sunday mornings, and our weekly phone chat. It was so easy to make him happy, and I had a real experience of unconditional love. He got me. I’ve fleetingly had this feeling in romance, and felt like a man (or 2) has had it about me. But it’s hard to sustain. Maybe it’s because we’re always in flux. People get us one moment, but not the next. That’s part of the mystery. But the longing remains.
Image: See Through by Tes One
Is It Easier to Be Single in the City?
Image: Lonely Metropolis, 1932 by Herbert Bayer
What’s Your Splurge?
MINE:
Daily home delivery of the New York Times
Martin Margiela shoes
Villa Manodori balsamic vinegar
Dolce & Gabbana lipstick
Really good pen (brands vary)
YOURS?
Image: Alejandro Diaz
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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR is a guide to surviving, thriving and sometimes just getting through a single day. Created by Wendy Braitman (more…)
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