David McKee
My Online Search for Romance in Small-town America
Long hours working at the dealership helped me cope with my divorce, but got in the way of meeting someone new after the dust settled. Few opportunities existed in my small town after I got done working from eight in the morning until seven at night save for a few bars and restaurants. The finance manager suggested I join a dating site one night while she applied lipstick before she left to meet someone she recently met online.
I would go on to ask myself how it can be so difficult to find someone when I lived during the most socially connected time in human history.
Online dating offered the capability to cast a wide net to reach women literally across the globe. I found that the same problem existed online as it did offline. I didn’t want to drive more than a few minutes to meet someone. A half hour commute after work meant spending much of my time commuting instead of spending time with someone. It might be okay for a hookup, but I was looking for more: my lover, friend and confidant.
I limited my search to the lowest number of miles. The pool of women I found dropped drastically. The interesting part of narrowing my search so much was I found I knew many of the women suggested by the dating site. Some were sisters of friends, coworkers, old schoolmates. I had even dated a few. The insight in some of the profiles was entertaining.
I had been swiping left and right searching for romance from the comfort of my
Cell phone for a few weeks to escape the isolation of short evenings after long days of selling cars. None of the women I come across seemed interesting. I think it’s because I didn’t know them. I couldn’t picture myself meeting a stranger from an app. There was too much uncertainty and I can’t imagine feeling the chemistry through my cell phone.
One caught my attention Friday night after work as I ate leftover Mexican, drank a beer and watched TV.. It was someone I saw nearly every day and I confided in briefly as I navigated my divorce. She was someone I wanted to meet offline, but I hadn’t gotten up the courage to ask for her number.
She operated her coffee shop, The Bean, out of a converted school bus where I bought my coffee each morning on my way to Stateline Auto where I sold used cars for an old drunk, Harvey. I immediately recognized her on the dating site when I saw her profile. Amanda’s username was CocoBean.
Amanda’s profile photo was taken fo her framed by the service window cut out of the bus. Her head on her hands, her signature green, black and yellow beanie with her red, twisted hair pouring out from under it. Her bio was simple.
Looking for love in Small-town America. Must love me, coffee, dogs and in that order lol.
The thing about dating online through a dating site was some of the people I saw online were part of the cast of characters I saw every day. There was the coworker in finance (I hoped she didn’t see me). Then there was that pretty who handed me my venti, hot Breve Latte every morning and always smiled and tole me to have a great day.
Maybe she saw my profile too:
Eligible Libra looking for a someone special to kick dry autumn leaves in the park. Seeking a friend, confidant, lover. I have a job, a car and I’m not incarcerated. I enjoy good food, live entertainment in small venues with someone special. BTW ladies, it turns me on if a woman can take the initiative.
Bob Marley, “Waiting in Vain” played from a digital speaker hanging on the side of the brown bus Monday morning as I waited in line to order my morning coffee.
“Hi David,” she smiled and recognized me when I got to the window. “Your Venti Breve Latte, hot.”
She handed it to me and turned it as she handed tox me to reveal she had written her phone number on the cup holder with a heart next to it. “Call me.”
“Autumn is my season too,” Amber said as I took my coffee and left.
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