Elle's First {Blind} Date

How did I get here {testing my wits/paying for a dating service}? It all started last summer when {I pretended} I was ready to start dating. I went on my first {blind} date pre-eharmony.com. {And I lived to tell about it.}

My parents were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary {congrats to them!} and my siblings and I threw them a fabulous party to celebrate their big day.  I was designated photographer and got to mix and mingle with some interesting folks from my parents past and present. One older gentleman and I got to talking - and laughing - and he declared that he would love to set me up with his son. I figured I might as well take a chance, right?

We met after exchanging a few emails for happy hour at an adorable gastro-tavern called Black Bottle in the heart of our Seattle. He was SUCH a gentleman. But there were two things - {A}. I felt no chemistry. {B}. I was not ready to date {which is probably part of the reason why I felt no chemistry}.
He also had this going against him {it was one of the hottest days of the year...but I dressed smartly and wore a white t-shirt}:

Bless his heart.

Needless to say, I didn't end up going out with him again. I just wasn't feeling it and I decided I needed some more {Elle} time before diving back into the dating world. It was a pleasant and terrifying experience all at once and I'm glad I got back out there if only for a moment...but it wasn't my time...yet.

What I learned from my blind date:
A. Dating is hard {and scary}.
B. After a break-up the only way to know if you are ready to date again- is if you get back out there and try {it's okay if it turns out that you're not ready just yet}.
C. Dating can be a confidence booster {I suppose it can crush you too - but we won't focus on that}.
D. If you sweat a lot, you should wear a light colored t-shirt {and maybe bring a stick of deodorant}.

Have you been on a blind date before? What have you learned?

Trust me, if I did it. You can do it too.

Elle