Dating in 2020
April 4, 2020
Welcome, welcome, welcome! It is good to see y’all again. When I write these posts, I imagine I am talking directly to you. In my mind, you are not a specific person with a face or any discernible features, but rather a figure of energy whom I have a one-way conversation with. The figure of energy has not started talking back to me, so I think I am okay for now.
If this is the first time you are on my blog, welcome! It is good to meet you. My name is Aemi, and here I share with y’all the funny, and sometimes ridiculous, stories and events that happen as my family tries to marry me off. I am sharing my stories, but I hope that it resonates with you, and at some level you find them entertaining. All of the names mentioned throughout this blog have been changed. The stories I share are from my point of view, and I am expressing my thoughts. If you enjoy them, please feel free to share!
This week, I want to share how this Covid quarantine has been affecting my prospects of finding a husband. I am living in a state that has stay-at-home orders in place as per the governor’s executive order. I know most states are operating at a “don’t go outside unless it is necessary” protocol, but I am not certain if they all issued stay-at-home orders. Restaurants have moved to take-out services only, bars and lounges have been shut, even the public library is closed until further notice. Basically, any place where more than ten people are gathering is in violation, and cops have been handing out fines for non-compliance. These are strange times we are living in.
On the other hand, since there is basically no more “going out,” people have been very creative in “staying in.” My friends and I have been video calling more than ever. Under normal circumstances, I would rather see people in person, I hate phone calls and video chats. But these are not normal circumstances, and a video call is better than not seeing anyone at all! We have even watched a couple of movies together. Like I said, it is not the same, but it will do for now.
After talking to some of my girlfriends, I came to realize that this quarantine is actually a blessing for someone like me when it comes to dating. For a normal person, planning a date usually entails looking at each person’s schedule, finding a common free time, finding a location that accommodates that free time, and then attending that date (I am not including all the prep work before the date because that varies from person to person).
But when I am planning a date, it usually entails figuring out when the last time I went out was versus the next time I want to go out (at minimum, there needs to be two weeks between going out events). Then a location needs to be determined, this will determine the kind of story I have to tell. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as telling the people I live with “hey, I will be late, don’t wait up for me.” Depending on who is in my cover story, I have to make arrangements with them so they do not accidentally out me. As if this was not enough planning, I have to consistently drop reminders to my parents that I will be inaccessible during that time period. But it does not matter, they will call me anyway asking where I am, what I am doing, when will I be home, etc. Only after all that can I begin to worry about what I am wearing, is there enough time to do my eyebrows, how much makeup should I put on. But with the stay-at-home orders in place, almost all of that is gone!
That is not to say there are not new challenges in this post-Covid world. For one thing, I cannot get on a phone call without one parent or another just casually walking around, doing something nearby, long enough to catch bits and pieces of my conversations. They frequently drop in to say hi to my friends when I am on video call with them. Could you imagine what they would be like if I were to talk to a date?
So, I came back on to dating apps with a fresh new outlook. Do I think something will magically happen now that the main way of getting to know someone is through text? No, as much as I am dismayed, real life does not work like a Disney movie. But that does not mean I cannot enjoy my down time. Besides, I am not saying I definitely will not find the love of my life, just that it is very unlikely. Crazier things have happened, so there is a possibility. But I am not picking out venues or deciding on floral arrangements just yet.
And how does Kyle feel about this? Well, truth be told, I do not talk to Kyle about these kinds of things. Before he left, we decided to keep things casual. Both of our futures were unknown and there was no guarantee we would see each other again. Then Rona came in like a wrecking ball, and now no one has any idea what the future will look like. There was no point in making promises or keeping hopes up. I told him if feelings change or someone else comes into the picture, let me know. I am not going to block a potential relationship from happening. And if something were to develop from these virtual dates on my end, I would do the same. I guess we will have to wait and see.
That is it for this week, I know it is a little shorter than the past couple of posts. I just wanted to give you a heads up that there will not be a post next week because it is Holy Week. Even though the religious institutions are technically closed, my church will be conducting the service via a live stream. The only people in the building will be the priest and his family, while parishioners tune in from their homes. This will definitely be a story to tell future generations! Well, I will see y’all in two weeks!
- Aemi
