it's all about compatibility

So I keep seeing eHarmony commercials on TV and I realized I hadn't really blogged about my online dating experience.  I am the LEAST adventurous person I know and swore I'd never do it, but I caved (it was a New Years' resolution, probably the first that was successful).  And I still can't believe that it worked out so well for me.

It started over Christmas break last year; I saw a commercial for another dating site and joined.  My dear friend Jen seemed appalled that I hadn't joined eHarmony, and convinced me to try that instead.  (I ended up paying for both sites.)  Anyway, the first week was exciting, getting messages and whatnot, but it started to wear off.  It almost felt like being in a bar but from the comfort of my own apartment.  I even felt awkward not responding to messages, like I was personally deflating their egos.

A month or so later, I got a canned message from this guy named Patrick from Savannah (I still give him a hard time about not being very personal on the first one, but he still argues that he didn't want to mess anything up).  As horrible as it sounds, I saw his job and had it been anything else I probably wouldn't have kept reading (sorry sweetie!).  Having gone through most of my adult life so far surrounded by public safety people, I think I'm still drawn in that direction even though many of them probably aren't relationship material (first- and second-hand experience cited).

Well, it worked out.  We emailed for a few weeks, then talked on the phone.  I think this lengthy (well, relatively speaking) period of communication was really important and one of the reasons why it's worked out so well. I was still scared to death on our first date that he'd be a serial killer, so I had a bunch of people on standby just in case.  He drove to Charleston and we spent a wonderful afternoon downtown.  (Pretty sure he's not a serial killer.)

AND he's got a swoon-worthy uniform!

I keep telling him that I can't believe it worked out like this for us.  Being a med student with little time and no money, I'm not an ideal candidate after first glance.  But I'm so lucky to have found a guy who not only doesn't mind that I'm always busy or complaining endlessly about school, or that I have a crazy dog and cat, he embraces it and loves me for it!  It's been almost six months of "official" dating and I don't think he's ever said "no" or "why" when I ask him to do something for me.

This year and the next few years are probably going to be the toughest in my life, but it is so much more bearable knowing that I have such a wonderful support system- between Patrick and the rest of my family behind me 200%.  But really- Patrick, you really don't know what you're in for :).

The craziest part about this whole thing is that HE still thinks he's the luckier one!