Speed Dating

This weekend, I've been at the Youth Specialties National Youth Leader Conference in Sacramento. It's been a great weekend so far, but the best story of my time here has been my first experience with speed dating.

If you don't know anything about speed dating, it's basically where a bunch of singles get together, sit down & go on 5 minute "dates" with each other. Everyone sits at a table alternating between boys & girls. So, there's always a girl in between the boys. Then, we talk to the boy on your left for 5 minutes (a "date") & then switch to the boy on your right afterward. Then, the boys move & you do the same thing again.

Well, even though I'm taking the year off from dating (yes, I'm giving God my 23rd year to focus on Him & Him alone), I mustered enough courage to go to Youth Worker Speed Dating at the conference last night. At first, I really was not interested. I didn't want to be embarrassed & I don't really want to date anyone anyway. But, I went with a friend, Annie who is the coolest single girl ever (shout out to Annie!)

So, I'm sitting at this round table with 4 gentlemen & 3 other girls. Honestly, these guys look like they could be my youth. They're all, like 18 years old.

My first date, "sideburns man" literally had the fullest & thickest sideburns I've ever seen. I could have camped out in that forest! We chatted about what we do, where we live, etc. but then, "sideburns" runs out of interesting questions. So, I'm bored beyond relief, so I flat out tell him that I'm not dating right now & I'm just here with a friend. The next 2 minutes is seriously spent in silence. Date over, thank God.

Second date, Lars. He's 18, but looks like he's my age. However, he was way too trendy. I mean the "I obviously buy all my clothes at Hollister or PacSun & have way too much time on my hands to make my hair look this good" kind of guy. 5 minutes of talking about nothing. He's just started college. I just graduated from college. Enough said.

Third date, "Hobbs". Literally, that's his name. He introduced himself with arms & hands flailing everywhere. Finally, he noticed my face (look of horror) & toned it down a bit. But, seriously, this guy was like a big ball of atomic energy ready to implode on Japan. I'm talking loud, bad teeth, arms everywhere, ready to smack me in the face from all of his excitement. I'm pretty sure I saw him doing cartwheels down the halls of the convention center earlier that day. He too was the age of my youth.

Dates # 4-6 aren't even worth mentioning because I can't remember them. No names, no faces, just nothingness...here's yer sign!

Date #7. My rescue guy, Eric! Actually, he knows a friend of mine who is a youth worker in Visalia, CA. Nice guy. Really fun. 28. Obviously, he's not the love of my life, but it was so refreshing having a conversation with someone who was older than me. We also had chatted a little afterward, but I never saw him again. It was like an angel of mercy in a barren dating desert. Praise Jesus!

Date #8. Again, I too blocked this from my memory. However, I have a feeling that he was from Texas & liked football.

In conclusion, whoever thought it would be a good idea to squish 100 single Christian youth workers into a room together & force them to divulge every personal aspect of their personality & lives in 5 minute "dates" was seriously disturbed. I have to admit, though, I had fun.

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