Thing to Do #79: Answer a Personal Ad

Since I guess I’m in the the “Honeymoon Stage,” no better time than now to reflect on how Alex and I first met. 

In this day and age, online dating is the norm and as far as I can tell, its getting more and more accepted as a way to meet people.  It seems that most are too busy with their jobs and other life responsibilities to be able to meet people traditionally; online is convenient and in theory, is more efficient. 

I accomplished this thing to do through online dating (do they even have tradtional personal ads in the paper anymore?)  AND, I actually married mine!

I met Alex through an online dating site.  We exchanged some emails, which led to chatting online, which led to some phone calls.  One Friday night, my social plans fell through and Alex happened to call early in the evening.  I mentioned that my plans for the night had fallen through and he joked that we should go out.  The reason that this really was a joke at first was because he lived almost 2 hours away in Wilmington, NC.  He had lived in the Raleigh area for years, but only in the previous 6 months had moved to Wilmington for a job.

Joking became serious discussion which became solid plans.  He managed to get himself together and we set to meet in the parking lot of a Target nearby to head downtown Raleigh.  I do have to say now that the photos I had posted on the site were current; his, as I later discovered, were from at least 7 years earlier.  I was also surprised by how short he was; it was the first thing that struck me when he got out of his car.  (He had posted his height, I just hadn’t paid attention).

When I first met him, he went in for a hug, but I went for a handshake.  We shook hands hello.  I then got into his car to go downtown (only later did I realize this probably wasn’t very safe, getting in the car with a stranger and not having told anyone that I was going out with someone).  We headed to Armadillo Grill in downtown Raleigh and proceeded to have awkward conversation.  The conversation had flowed well on the phone, but in person, I think I was just really nervous.  I had just left my ex-husband 2 months earlier and was out of practice.

We then headed to a bar, but it was early yet and we were practically the only ones there.  We had a couple of drinks and then headed to yet another bar, Ri-Ra’s (now Napper Tandy’s).  I’ve said before that I’m not a big drinker; I’ve also never understood the idea of “bar hopping.”  Once I get someplace, I kinda like to stay there.  At Ri-Ra’s, it was very crowded and trying to talk was nearly impossible.  After a few more drinks, I was ready to go and told him so.  After I got back to my car, I said to myself “I’m never seeing that guy again.”

He called a few days later and I didn’t pick up.  He caught me online and we chatted a bit more.  We started talking again and I decided to give him a second chance.  A couple of weeks later, I went to spend the weekend with him in Wilmington (Hey! I was going for the beach!) and he started to grow on me.  I always call him my little fungus.  He’s an odd bird and I think a lot of people don’t get him at first because he’s one of those guys that say things that are sometimes socially inappropriate, but its just his sense of humor, and usually once you get that about him, you’re ok.

Speaking of Online Dating, here are some interesting stats (albeit a little outdated):

- Online Dating Magazine estimates that more than 20 million people visit at least one online dating service a month. (Online Dating Magazine – 2007)

- Online Dating Magazine estimates that there are more than 120,000 marriages a year that occur as a result of online dating. (Online Dating Magazine – 2007)

- 31% of adults in America say they know someone who has used an online dating service. (Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project Report: Online Dating, March 2006)

- In 2003 it was estimated that three million people paid for an online dating service listing. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- In the first half of 2003, consumers spent over $214 million for online dating services. This number is 76 percent higher than the same time last year. (Source: Online Publishers Association)

- On average, those paying for online dating services spend a total of $239 per year. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- It is estimated that the financial growth of online dating will reach $642 million in 2008. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- As of February 2005, 33% fewer consumers are browsing online personals today than one year ago, causing the industry growth to slow considerably. (Source: Jupiter Research)

- Consumers spent $214.3 million on personals and dating content during the first half of 2003, up 76 percent from the same period in 2002. (Source: Online Publishers Association).

Anyone answered a traditional personal ad, like in a newspaper?