Sincere greetings from the land of your unmarried and blissfully content daughter. I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits and ready to embark on yet another laugh-out-loud adventure with your perpetually unmarried daughter.
It’s about to get PG-rated and I trust that our open relationship will allow for robust storytelling. I have always dared to push the envelope and I guess this is no different.
Yes, I know it’s been at least three years since I updated you on my dating escapades, so grab a cup of tea, put your feet up and get ready for some Tinder tales.
That first Tinder match was exhilarating. I had finally found the courage to try dating again – and it certainly was worth the wait. I was ready to meet new people. Tinder provided me with countless days and nights of entertainment.
My first (Tinder match that is) was unforgettable. Jackpot! The match notification sound, the push notification and the in-app match notification, a first that remains deeply etched in my memory bank. I may not recall his name – not because there were that many – but because it was fleeting.
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Mom and dad raised me well. I was raised to be an independent thinker. Dad’s love for news certainly shaped my career choice in some way. Yet, it was when I told my first that I was a journalist that he quickly unmatched. This was after roaring and pleasant banter that elicited plenty of giggles.
The number of successful matches quickly piled up and it was easy for me to sort through the clutter. I have very good judgement when it comes to suitors – or at least so I thought.
I only met two of my matches. My desire to get back into the dating ring was certainly not clouding my fine taste and judgement. I had met these two in quick succession. The one was a fiasco and the other, everything I needed at that stage in my life. They were incredibly caring, thoughtful and a big teddy bear that I didn’t quite know what to do with. Their smile – man – what a smile! That cologne – I sure do love a good-smelling someone. I also love a human in a uniform.
We met around my birthday in 2019 – this was about the same time that I had to have my wisdom teeth removed. I remember this because despite it being my first birthday in Johannesburg that I wasn’t dating someone – I didn’t feel alone. The warmth, compassion, and kindness that I was shown by someone I would consider a perfect stranger was unlike anything I had experienced before. I couldn’t help but think that this was God’s doing.
We both needed each other. If our paths crossing was not fate, then I don’t know what is. I happened to share the same birthday as their late mother.
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I’m getting ahead of myself here so let me take a few steps back to the evening that we met. So much chivalry – it was divine. Sweet gestures and sweet smiles – I’m getting giddy just thinking about it. The first meet-up was a hit and we started seeing each other regularly.
They were a cop *swoons over uniform* and one night, I needed a cop friend. By then we had become good friends and they were on another date. Not long after I called for help, did they arrive. They arrived with their date in the passenger seat. I couldn’t help but laugh as I wrote that. They weren’t impressed with me, but they showed up. The genuine care and consideration was special.
They satiated my love for sweetmeats (the sugary and delightful Indian sweets). I’ll never forget that delicious sorjee cake! Mom and I should try and make it someday.
I have so much more to share with mom and dad, but it will have to wait.
Until next time!
P.S. Just a quick reminder, dear parents: I love you dearly. This is a letter to all parents with unmarried daughters. I cannot promise a wedding invitation – ever – so let's simply keep calm and carry on with our lives, shall we?
