Of doorstep scenes and such

It’s been a while since my last dating post, so I figured I’d resurrect the dragon. :P

So, even though I’ve been on 79 dates since my mission (with 52 different girls, if you’re curious), I still inexplicably get nervous before pretty much every single date. You’d think I would’ve gotten used to it by now, but no. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a blind date or not — I just always get nervous. But luckily I inevitably regain stasis within about five minutes of picking up my date, so it doesn’t really matter.

In the first year home from my mission, I went on several dates that were just awkward. No other way to describe them. In retrospect, though, of all the dates I’ve been on since that first year, I can’t think of a single one that felt awkward. Well, beginnings are usually a bit awkward, and doorstep scenes are almost always awkward, at least for first dates. I’ve accepted that fact. The thing, though, is that when something happens that could ostensibly be awkward, the writer in me says, “Hurray! You could write about this.” And it’s no longer awkward. So yes, I now own awkward. It’s great. :P

And here’s the doorstep scene of this post: of those 52 girls, seven have names starting with J, seven with A, six with M, five with K, and so on down the line. I’m not sure if that means anything or not. (Other than that I’m a bit odd. ;)) Oh, I suppose I’d better quickly explain my dating log. All I keep track of is the date (calendar), my date (the girl), and the date (what we did). :P And whether I asked the girl, she asked me, it was a mutual sort of asking thing, or it was a blind date. And how many couples were there. I’m not entirely sure why I keep this record, come to think of it; I guess it helps me prove to myself that I’m actually fulfilling my duty to date. ;)

HOLY COW! 52 girls in what, 4 years? Do you get a medal or something after the 50th girl? :)

I’m surprised that your think the doorstep scene is awkward on the first date. That is just about the least awkward part of the whole date I think. After a first date, you just say that you had a good time and you can make some sort of joke about good food and good company. Then you give her a hug and leave. It’s pretty systematic, I think.

What’s awkward is when you begin to enter unchartered territory. Like the second or third or fourth date. Then you don’t really know what to expect or what she expects. Then you maybe linger a little trying to decide if she is expecting something more and (perhaps even harder to determine) if you are expecting something more. And then you mentally kick yourself a little as you walk away because you were brave enough or because perhaps you were a bit too brave.

Yeah. First date doorstep scenes are the easiest.

You didn’t say ANYTHING about goodbye doorstep scenes. I am highly disappointed.

It makes me really happy that you keep track. Throughout High School and during my Freshman year at BYU I kept a date journal where I wrote every detail including, if it was a group date, who other people went with as well. Although it hasn’t been updated in quite a while, it’s nice to get it out every now and then and read it and laugh. I didn’t really realize anyone else out there did the same thing.

Wow. A dating log. That *may* be taking the missionary work-dating analogy just a bit too far.
People talk about painfully awkward dates they went on right after the mission…. Of the earliest dates I went on after I came home, I can’t think of a single one that I’d say was awkward. I kinda feel like I’ve missed out…. :P

Ali: Haha, alas, no medal. And three and a half years, yes. It averages out to around a date every two weeks.

Xister: Good point on the post-first date doorstep scenes. But as for it being the least awkward part of the date, I disagree. :) For me, at least, the middle (which is luckily the longest part) is the least awkward by far.

Haley: You have to realize that there are several girls who read this blog whom I’ve taken on dates and therefore have had a goodbye doorstep scene with. (Um, including you.) That’s why. :P

DianeyFace: While I don’t track the names of the other couples in my date log proper, I do write them down in my journal. Being a family history major right after my mission somehow infused me with a burning obsession to record everything. ;) And I’m glad I’m not the only one.

Whitney: Too far? :P Simply recording dates isn’t really that odd. I mean, if people keep track of their money, surely keeping track of their relationships is kosher. :) If you’re free of awkwardness, by the way, you really ought to try to stir some up. It adds spice to life.