September 2021. One of my very first online dates was in Boston, Massachusetts. I had just moved there about a month prior for school at Berklee and I had downloaded some dating apps (Tinder & Hinge) to see who was roaming around in this new city of mine. I had only been swiping for about a day when I woke up to a new match: score!
However, if I’m being honest, I didn’t remember swiping right on him. I was one of those avid sleep swipers who took their phone to bed, got into fetal position and started swiping as my eyes came to a close. But hey, if it got me a match, and he seemed pretty cute, then I’d sleep swipe anyday!
We planned a date pretty quick after the boring ‘Why’d you move to Boston?’ and ‘What do you do for work?’ exchange. I do remember he cancelled the first date because he was exposed to covid but quickly rescheduled. The night of the actual date, I had spent venting all my first-date jitters to my roommate while I got ready. The Uber would be here any minute and with a small shot of tequila in my system, and some mild nausea, I was excited.
I got the Uber to drop me off a block past the date spot: Citizen Public House, so I could scope to see if he was outside waiting like he said he was and so I could also give myself a minute to breathe as I walked up to the restaurant entrance. As I got closer, the nerves got stronger and I made a pit stop behind some very large planter to take a few deep breaths and send a video to my sister about how ill I felt.
The date… was fun! We shared some charcuterie and laughed every time we heard the crowd cheer from Fenway Park. We mingled with the couples next to us and even posed for a group photo at the end of the night because once the drinks were flowing, we were all friends. Was this dude the love of my life? No. But, I did catch feelings which made for some exciting few months of dates and learning to put myself out there in the dating world. So, if you’re nervous about your first date with a stranger, the best way to get over those nerves is to embrace them!
