News about the Omicron version was stagnant and the circulation was ugly: its arrival from South Africa, travel restrictions, inevitably spread around the world. No, I thought, here we go again. I have memories of early 2020 when the world shut down due to COVID-19, which spread rapidly and destroyed global economies, affecting human health and causing countless deaths.
It was djà vu. To make matters worse, COVID numbers were steadily rising, and as a single person, I ignored dating apps and vowed to overcome the epidemic alone. Sometimes, I go back to apps to see if I’m healed and if I can connect with someone. I had some social distance dates. There was a woman who did not want to meet in person but instead was good with facelifting. After five virtual meetings, I asked if we could meet in person. (She was too scared to do that.) Also, there was a woman who refused to sit together in the parklet of a restaurant, instead we brought our food to the park and ate standing at least 6 feet away, pulling our masks. Down for each cut.
After the headlines about Omicron hit the headlines in December, I had to make a decision. Do I repeat my reluctance to try to find someone on dating apps? Or should I continue? After the Delta hike of COVID-19, I met some good people and went on many dates. Some of these relationships lasted two or three months, but none lasted long. I was compelled and determined. Through it, I was trying to be bold, take risks and find the love of my life.
Many women’s profiles looked promising. Beth was a technician interested in skydiving. Also, there was comedian Stacey who looked funny but she seemed to be a handful, always focused. One day, after scrolling for what seemed like forever, I saw N’s profile. She was a schoolteacher like me. She is about 11 months older than me. And she lived a short distance away in Ventura County. If the traffic was moving, it would take about an hour and 40 minutes to drive, but it can be removed. Swipe right.
In the Bumble Dating app, guys have to swipe right and wait for a woman to take a deep breath, hoping to take that important first step to a connection. A few hours after swiping right, a notification popped up on my phone. It was n. Well, I thought, now we’re talking. She looked friendly. I scrolled her profile again. She was beautiful, and her answers to some of the pre-set questions were ridiculous and entertaining.
I massaged her again.
At first it seemed that this distance could be too far for him. I told him I had no objection to the distance and I would drive to see him. “Who knows,” I wrote, “maybe we’ll find that we’re worth the drive.” She suggested we meet halfway instead of driving all the way to find out we had no chemistry. I agreed. She said Christmas was coming and her children were visiting the state (her daughter) and the country (her son). I said, “Okay. Maybe after Christmas. “
On December 26, we met at a pub. A few minutes before I got there she texted me that she was there, giving me some doubts. Why didn’t I leave first? I always arrive before my date.
Ann was amazing, and her smile was bright on her face. I thought: She looks more beautiful in person.
She wanted an IPA, and I wanted darkness. When the bartender asked if we wanted 12 or 16 ounces, I thought he would go for less. Or vice versa. To my surprise, she chose 16 ounces. Based on her choices, I thought, this might be the one for me.
We went for a walk. I love history and enjoy sharing my passion. Sometimes I can be a little stupid by pointing to this or that historical place. To my surprise, she was really enjoying it. After a short walk, we arrived at the college campus admiring the architecture, gardens, and sculptures. Standing in front of an Ivy-covered faculty office building and close to each other, we nodded for our first kiss.
There seemed to be a connection. We talked that night and the next day. I got a text from N early the next day asking if I wanted to hang out. I couldn’t play that day because my hair was hard to find and I really needed to cut it. “Would you like to meet me here?” I asked
I was surprised, she said. We spent that day wandering around my bizarre city.
New Year’s Eve was approaching. Should I ask him? I decided to do it. She said that she planned to be busy that night and welcome the new year with her sister. I proposed to stay together on New Year’s Day. The next day he called me. Plan change. She did not go to her sister’s house. So Ann invited me to her home. We can have dinner and ring together in the new year. I said, “Yes. Can I bring my dog? “She replied enthusiastically,” Yes. “
On New Year’s Eve, at about seven o’clock in the evening, I reached his house, and in the first hour, one disaster after another followed. First, my dog decided to defecate on her carpet in the living room. Unaware of what had happened, I brought her to the little kennel and placed it on top of my dog’s business, splashing a little on the carpet. Ann wasn’t worried about the shock; He looked more fun than before. He grabbed my apron and said, “Come cook.” Outbreak 2: I accidentally smashed one of his expensive wine glasses. Shocked, I tried to hide my shame. 2021 did not end soon.
We seemed to pre-scare the weekend. Following those accidents, everything went well. We talked a lot in the new year, ate amazing food and drank champagne, we discovered many things in common. We were lifelong teachers and we loved to read, write and walk. She asked me to go for a walk with her on New Year’s Day. I said yes.
Happy New Year’s Day: long breakfast, dinner after hiking and the scene of “Being the Ricardos”. The next morning it was all over, I thought, when I got home, an hour and 40 minutes journey. I didn’t want to leave her. I want to stay and continue the magic that our weekend brought together. I was pushed towards her and felt that the relationship should continue.
We talked on the phone for the next few days and planned to stay together again. We decided that he would take my place. The day he came he texted me. He was seen as cowardly positive. The night before I had experienced some sniffing and two coughs. I got sick from work and went for PCR test. Results do not come for two-three days.
The next day was the next day off. I went to the quick test site. Negative. The result of PCR test came. Positive I immediately called Ann and said, “Since we’re both here, let’s sit down together.” Her doctor said that if we are positive then we can quarantine together – it was a very good arrangement. Ann said she would finish as soon as she could pack her things and take them with her.
The two of us were almost strangers sharing living quarters with each other. It was about a month after our first contact and about two weeks after our first date. “Oh, yes,” my friends said, “it’s a good idea. There was no way to work.”
Ann and I learned a lot about each other during our quarantine week. We had a lot in common. We are very positive people. We are good listeners and comfortable, refusing to compromise on small issues. Because of our daily meditation, yoga practice and love of eating and drinking, we knew each other forever, the two souls parted at some point but eventually returned together. We enjoyed our role as carers for each other.
It turned out that I did not want to go through COVID in any other way. The connection we made was visual and powerful, and the test that COVID put into our relationship was easily defeated by what we experienced in detecting each other. We talked about who gave the disease to whom, but in the end, we realized that it didn’t matter. COVID brought us together, and more than three months after our first date, we are still together and planning our next date, adventure and trip.
The author is a lifelong Californian, a high school English teacher, and an assistant professor. He is on Twitter arkparkmess.
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