Unexpected Sundays

On my 3rd day of being on the online dating app POF, he messaged me. He was funny, cute and had an extremely honest profile, which is where he openly admitted to loving Disney. We exchanged a few messages and then he was gone. “Well, that was a fun few hours,” I thought. The next day, a Sunday, at 6:45 p.m., I get a message from him, “Sarah! What are you up to?” I told him that I was cleaning and doing housework and he said he was doing the same. He said we should blow it off and go get drinks. It’s a work night. I’m in sweatpants and haven’t showered yet for the day. It takes me all of 2 seconds to ponder what my response is. “I can be ready in an hour!” 

We plan the place, I shower and put on my favorite skinny jeans, and text my friends to let them know what’s going on. You never know with these online dates…I could end up as a skin suit! Also, it’s required that I send them a photo of my outfit before I head out the door. He calls me as I’m pulling in to the restaurant to let me know that he’s there. I park and he’s standing on the sidewalk, grinning from ear to ear. Cue the butterflies. I get out of the car and walk toward him when he excitedly pulls me in for a big hug. Here we go.

That was 11 weeks ago.

Let’s go back to those 2 seconds when I decided what to respond when he asked me out. There in my room, I thought about all the times I sat on the sidelines waiting for life to finally start. I thought about how long it would take me to get ready, how I didn’t have anything to wear and how terrified I was (remember, dating was SUPER new). I could come up with at least 10 excuses of why I should turn him down and get a raincheck. Instead, I grabbed that girl, the one sick and tired of waiting, and told her, “Fucking go! Don’t be afraid. Don’t turn this down. Have fun, Sarah! CHOOSE HAPPY.”

I did. I do. I will.

 
Blissfully, unequivocally, incredibly, stupidly, amazingly, excitedly, just plain ol’

happy.