Requirements

At six-years-old I had only one simple requirement for my future husband–his last name needed to come before mine in the alphabet. You see they did everything alphabetically in grade school, and those of us in the lower half of the alphabet got stuck waiting. Waiting to go to lunch. Waiting to go to recess. Waiting to use the drinking fountain. Waiting to get a treat. And one day while waiting in yet another alphabetical line, I vowed that come Hell or high water I would marry up in the world, up in the alphabet that is.

And that's the one requirement that has stuck.

Over the years my list of requirements for my future husband has varied in length and content. This list has at some time or another specified his goals, likes, dislikes, political affiliation, religion, family background, age, eduction, etc. But the one requirement that I've never been able to remove or change is that very first one I ever made. It's silly, I know, but it's funny how frequently it sneaks up on me.

Once after starting up a conversation with an attractive, single man on an elevator, I actually had to hide my disappointment upon learning his last name started with a W. I even find myself having to justify going on a date with a Thompson or a Smith, almost like that 6-year-old who made that promise all those years ago is there passing judgment on my choices.

"So what if his last name is Zambonie? He's a good guy. He likes kids. He's responsible. He's funny. He treats me well. Besides we've only been out a few times. It's not like we are getting married."

While it is still technically on the list of requirements, it is also the first one I will ignore. I'm not about to tell a guy that I won't go out with him because of the FIRST LETTER of his last name. Many of my love interests and boyfriends have had last names between R – Z. However, when a relationship fizzles, it is often the first excuse that pops up. "It never would have worked anyway. I mean his last name started with a Y" or "I can do so much better than him. He was only in the P's. I'm should able to get at least an M."

Ludicrous, I know. Perhaps that's why I'm still single, unrealistic expectations. But it makes for a wonderful retort to that dreaded question, "So why are you still single?" The next time I receive such a uninvited inquiry, I will pause a moment, look thoughtful, and respond "I'm alphabetically picky" and walk away.

New York or dating

It's been 24 days since my interview in New York, and no word at all on the internship. I'm afraid I'm beginning to lose confidence.

But no worries, there's some good news about not moving to New York. If you will, please refer to the map below. I clipped it out of the February 2007 National Geographic (fyi--there are always fascinating yet odd tidbits about love in the Feb. editions). This particular map shows the distribution of single people across the country. The blue dots are male, and the orange dots are female.


















If you'll take a quick look at the map, you can see what I call a middle school dance phenomena. All the guys on one side and all the girls on the other. ;o)

Now click on the map to take a closer look at Boston versus New York. I like dating. Dating is a good thing, and for some reason I find Boston's demographic a little more encouraging than New York's. I mean 185,000 more females than males, come on.

So although I may not get my dream internship in NYC, I can take comfort in knowing I have a better chance of finding a boyfriend in Boston. But then again I've always wanted to live in Seattle or maybe LA. I wonder what internships I might find there. ;o)