Internet romance cops a lot of flak, raised eyebrows… the gentle hmmmmm of a hesitant correspondent. You can hear it, the “Riiiiight… internet date… okaaaay.” Like there’s something about it that’s not quite genuine, slightly seedy, a bit pathetic and dare I admit it…
Desperate…
It isn’t just the people in Co-op* relationships who look askance… there are even Singulars who for whatever reason look down on the whole process… as if their singularity is somehow higher than settling for… [sharp intake of breath]
An Internet Thing.
In spite of this, millions of single people out there are signed up on God only knows how many internet dating sites hooking up, either online or in person, casually, or committedly… But for all that there’s apparently still something that’s just…
Not…Quite…Right. At least, that’s how it comes across…
That eyebrow…
That “Hmmmmmm”.
The reason I’m thinking about it is… that for the last 2 months I’ve been in the middle of…
An Internet Thing…
A thing that’s been subject to those eyebrows, and hums. Subject to concerned inquiries… Yes on some fronts subject to enthusiastic support but by no means unanimous applause. Truth is? I’m ok with that – to each his own. The Hums are usually motivated by concern for my welfare, and having concerned friends is cool…
V cool.
All the same, today, in a mutually agreeable decision, Kiwifella and I closed down the internet connection. Not without tears on either side of the Tasman, and not without a conviction that it was the right thing to do.
It was fun while it lasted, and we don’t regret it for a minute – but the course had been run and the finish line was waiting for us to have the courage to cross it.
Not all internet romancers are Axe Wielding Maniacs. Some of them are genuine guys looking for genuine girls. My heart has got away with my head before, I’m very wary these days… but I know for sure, this one?
He’s a keeper.
I’m sad it’s not me who gets to keep him but I’m glad, that for these few weeks I was a spring in his step, and he in mine. Glad that we tried it out, long distance and all and that our emails were the highlight of each other’s days. Glad that I put myself out there, gave it a shot and took the risk, the risk that this day would come.
Because unless I do I am sitting in an ivory tower waiting for the axe wielding prince to break down the door.
When maybe what he really needs is for me to leave out the key.
*Co-operative adj 1: involving the joint activity of two or more people; antonym – Singular.