"Friends" to the North

Some may not fully understand this post. In fact might even feel like I am rude and do not deserve to fall in love at all. I will be talking to the rest out there that live in the Pacific Northwest. Please sympathize with me.

At this point many are already smiling at what I am implying, others are probably driving and shaking their fist at the car behind, in front and beside them. 

See I avoid Costco on a Saturday morning, I don't go to Safeway after work and I refuse to frequent the Guide Edaleen Dairy. I will rearrange my schedule to avoid the crowds of friends from the North. 

I didn't even consider this aspect when I was looking into online dating. 

Apparently there are more Canadian men qualified to be a fit for me than there are American men. 

No wonder I haven't found someone yet! 

At least this is what the website keeps telling me when I check my options. Not only do I find it quite odd its extremely uncomfortable. I look at a profile, I nod my head as I read their interest and then I glance back at their "home" and the little hope I had is smothered. Out like a light! 

And then the guilt creeps in.

I know that these are nice boys and some very important people in my life hail from that land...but I can't cross that line.

I mean...I wish I had the excuse that I can't cross the border but that's a lie.

It just does not make sense for me to pursue a Canadian. I barely had time before to date...now this website wants me to date AND cross international borders frequently?!? It's just too much. 

Then again...

In the future 

I might be loading up my car 

with milk and gas

headed to see 

about a boy 

up North...

The Voices Made Me Do It

I am pulling close to 30 and have realized my opportunities are different than my friends. This is a place to be grateful for the stage of life I am in.

Am I grateful for the online dating stage I am in? I am not sure yet but it definitely has taken me years to try it. It is a daunting process which consistently includes arguing with the voices in my head. I have added an example below for clarity.

Frustrated Ria: I give up.

Hopeful romantic Ria : You gotta keep trying.

Works all the time Ria: It's too much work.

Want to have a family Ria: It's totally worth it.

Broken heart bitter Ria: Really? Is it really?

The good old days Ria: It's absolutely worth it!

Don't want to fight with the voices anymore Ria: Sigh...fine...sigh.

All that just to get to the online dating screen that asks for my dating headline. Pretty sure no one is going to check out a profile of someone whose dating headline is:
 

"The voices in my head made me sign up for this."

But then again the site does have some very helpful prompts that include: 

• Do you have a funny saying?
• An inspirational quote?
• How would your friends describe you?

I believe my friends and family describe me as always on the go and afraid of commitment. Pretty sure that is not going to go over well on the internet!

I have decided that online dating is not worth the journey if I am not going to share it with the people who have brought me this far. I wish desperately I could sit in a coffee shop with each of you, look into your eyes and tell you these stories in my most dramatic voice. I know you would give me the best advice and use the most caring words. And so I have chosen to share here and ask for your help. 

So my dear friends and precious family...could you offer me some better suggestions for a dating headline?