Moslitski: I Miss Movies and Making Out

Ah, first dates. A time for awkward silences or intense lip-locking. Hand-holding or Hell-bound conversations. A connection or a complete disaster. And as we get older, it doesn't seem to get any easier. In fact, it seems to just become more complicated.

When I was in high school I dated the same guy on-and-off throughout my youthful summers. Those dates were the best--filled with a DVD rental from Blockbuster, a comfy couch and a complete thrilling two hours of making out in the safety of his basement away from his parents (even though once in awhile his mom would yell down to "see if we wanted any popcorn"). While our dates were never filled with mind-blowing conversations or romantic gestures, they were still easy, comfortable, and best of all, fun.

Nowadays there is so much more pressure on the dreaded first date. On top of trying to find a connection, we struggle to see if we're attracted, if we share the same interests, if we have a similar belief system, what kind of politics do we follow, what's the family situation, what do we spend our money on...the list could go on and on. For some of the topics, they are mere details...but certain subjects can be deal-breakers.

For example, when we were young did we really care what our romantic interests did for a living? Of course not. In fact, I was probably more impressed by someone who worked at a fast-food restaurant for the simple fact that I could score some free food off him during his shift. Now, if a guy even mentions the words Wendys or Taco 'Hell' we run for the hills. I long for the days when we weren't concerned with titles, committments, appearances...and just went with how we felt about someone. Even if we're lucky enough to find someone we feel like horomone-induced-teenagers with again, down the road we start to pick and choose what we can deal with and what is going to have to change to make the relationship work.

So while I obviously can't pretend I'm 17 again, I certainly hope I can bring some of that fun and friskyness to dating. After all with the economy being what it is, there is nothing cheaper than a Red Box rental and a night in on the sofa.