#69. Towards the end of June, I matched with a NJB (Nice Jewish Boy) on JSwipe. He was preparing for the residency stage of his medical career. I could just picture my Jewish mother jumping up and down for joy, screaming “Jewish? Medicine? I’m calling the Rabbi to plan the wedding ceremony!”
Conversation was moving along, so naturally, I suggested we progress things by having a FaceTime date.
We decided to chat last night at 9 p.m. for our first virtual rendez-vous.
Let me tell you – this date was just what I needed to get out of my sloth-y routine. I washed my hair for the first time in G-d knows how long. I threw on a slightly revealing top, applied a few coats of mascara and even spent time putting those cute beach-y waves in my hair … cos you know, first impressions mean everything!
I tested out FaceTime to ensure my camera was at the right angle and poured myself a glass of white zinfandel in my cat shaped wine glass. Let the date begin!
9:05 p.m… I’m blankly staring at the FaceTime app on my laptop, waiting for him to call (he had my #). Nothing. I message him on the app asking if we were still on.
A few minutes later, he texted me:
NJB: “It turns out I have to be in for 6:15 tomorrow morning so I should probably try to get some sleep. Sorry about all this. It’s all new for me.”
Like – WTF! I was pissed off (rightfully so). What was new to him? Beginning his residency? Or venturing into the world of online dating? Anyway, I responded sharing my disappointment and asked if he could chat for 15 minutes.
NJB: “Okay, we can do 15 minutes. I’m just very depressed because they made me shave my full beard off today.”
Me: “I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe I can help cheer you up.”
NJB: “I’ll call in a little bit if that’s okay. I want to show my mom how bad I look first.”
Okay pause… he wants to call his mom first? This guy is 27 y/o. I could tell he wasn’t joking.
Fast forward to 10 p.m. and he finally called me. From the get-go, he appeared tired and frustrated. He gave off a mad scientist vibe with his disheveled hair style, as if he touched one of those static orbs at The Science Centre. He had a thick and scruffy mustache with short curls on either side – that he kept twiddling throughout the call. All I wanted to do was lather it in some Nair cream and watch it all dissolve. Ah – the satisfaction and joy that would bring!
He told me the beard was part of his identity for 6 years, and that he was forced to shave it off in order to properly wear the N95 mask. I tried my best to listen and comfort him through my words.
But despite telling him he looked great without the beard, and trying to help him understand that hair can easily grow back … his mood was not changing – aside from a few smiles I managed to crack out of him. So it seemed pointless to really start getting to know each other.
He felt bad and apologized that I had to see him in that state for the first time and asked if I’d be open to another chat … potentially over the weekend.
So I said to him that we could try again and just call it a do over. I firmly believe in second chances. But three strikes, you’re out!