Growing up, we watched movies where the two main characters fell in love in the most romantic ways. They would meet in a bookstore, a soft 80s love song would play in the background and everything would play in slow motion. There was no doubt that this was the moment everything would change for the better. You would listen to the story of how your parent’s met like it was your favorite fairytale, it would be funny, romantic and give you hope that perhaps one day you would find your own happy ending.
However, now you are a little older, a little wiser, and a lot more cynical. No one falls in love like the movies. Very few have that serendipitous moment where your soulmate is your next-door neighbor, or a handsome stranger at the park. We seem further and further from that love-at-first-sight story and closer to, “Well we’re talking and sometimes he calls me babe.”
However, this is not the end of the world. In a way, your life is more like a boring episode of "The Bachelorette," because of a beautiful little invention called Tinder. You can just swipe to the left or to the right to find your match, or matches.
Now, there is nothing wrong with Tinder. It’s a great, casual way to meet people in your area. It’s safe, it’s fun, and you can even send gifs to each other. What more could you want?
But there is still a stigma against Tinder. It’s hard to explain to your family that you met your current boyfriend because of an app. There used to be the same stigma for bars, people thought that they were only for one night stands and creepy men, but now that seems almost romantic compared to our current way of dating. So, in case your parents saw your Valentine’s Day post with your current love, here are four stories to tell them how you “met.”
1. Mom, you know what a klutz I am. Anyways, I was walking to class after sleeping for eight hours, like you suggest I do every night. I was getting there early so I could make sure to get my seat in the front row and I tripped over my own feet! Then, he caught me! He grabbed my hand and it was like a movie.
It was like he was dipping me for a waltz. He even walked me to my class to make sure I made it safe. Chivalry is not dead. We’ve been dating ever since. He’s also pre-med.
2. Dad, it was really funny actually. I was in Barnes & Noble Friday night, because what else would I be doing? I was strolling through the aisles until I saw one that caught my eye, “Chris Tomlin: An Autobiography”. I know how much you love Chris Tomlin and his timeless hits so I reached for it, and so did he!
Our hands touched and I felt sparks. We spent the rest of the night at Starbucks discussing the differences between ESV and NIV translation and he even paid for the book. We have joint custody of it.
3. Well, Aunt Betty, it’s a pretty cool story. I was in my COM 203 class for Rhetoric and Persuasion, and had to give a speech on a topic I’m passionate about, so I chose Feminism. I noticed he was taking vigorous notes, and when I finished he clapped for me like I was Beyoncé.
After class he handed me what I thought were notes but it was actually a love poem. He loved my spirit and now we spend the weekends at rallies to end the Wage Gap.
4. Y’all would not believe this. But it’s true, 100 percent. You know how there are a lot of deer at Berry, like seven per student? Well one day one came up to me, and like the Disney princess I reached to pet it, but it bit my jacket, and drug me over across campus. No, no one stopped me this happens a lot when they get hungry.
Anyways, it was actually leading me to a guy who was being dragged by another deer! They didn’t stop until we reached one another and then they looked at each other and frolicked away. No this is not the plot to "101 Dalmatians," this is REAL LOVE, GUYS.
I hope you can use one of these stories and your family and friends will believe it. Or maybe one day, we won't be ashamed to tell people we have a successful relationship because of Tinder. But until then, you're welcome.
