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Through Marielle's Eyes

Late 2010 and into early 2011, after not having much fortune in love, I decided to try a "different" approach. For me, written words hold a mirror to one's persona. There's just something romantic about connecting through the medium. So, with equal parts trepidation and curiosity, I created an account on Eharmony.

I figured I would have a little fun beyond the standardized test type questions so I made my matches answer open-ended essay questions.

Matches-- questions -- stuff n' things, oh my.










The introduction process on Eharmony went like so-- two rounds of questions. The first was the standardized test type question set which people could pick a preset answer or type out their own (points for creativity!). If you liked what you read, you could a) send over the next set of questions b) ignore them c) close match. C) was the ultimate Eharmony rejection. No, sir. I would not like some more.











I sat back and prepared to be swept off my feet by an eloquent modern day Romeo. But reality soon started to clear my chick flick tinted glasses and the results of my experiment left me feeling.. uninspired.

Based on answers I received, most found the whole process needlessly tedious. We're talking one word answers or one sentence essays. My nerdy side cringed at the palpable half heartedness.

I thought the whole point of Eharmony was to pre-get to know someone enough to then come to a final, sweeping decision about them.












I started to allow the e-mails exclaiming, "You've got new matches!" to pile up in my inbox. I don't know what algorithms Eharmony was using, but one thing was certain-- I never liked math and it didn't seem to be a fan of me either.

With the subscription period winding down to the end, I figured I should at least go through messages before I let the account close.

One day, sifting through some of them,a particular batch of answers made me smile and roll my eyes a little at the obvious flirting. Slightly cheesy, but endearingly so.

It had been a couple of months since this guy named Mark had contacted me but I decided to send him my next set of questions anyway. His response was just as intriguing as his first. Thoughtful, enthusiastic, and peppered with just enough interest to not come off as creepy or overly aggressive. Though I noted the heavy handed usage of winky faces. ;)












From there we started communicating on Gchat. Talking to Mark came so organically that hour upon hour would pass by without either of us noticing. For someone I hadn't met face to face, it was surprising to me how much I felt at ease.

My geek in shining armor!



















A little over a week later, things were going well and the subject of meeting IRL (in real life) came up. I should've felt tres excited. And I was! But I was also worried. There was such a chemistry between us.. was it fated to be confined to the interwebs?

After some deliberation, I concluded that if all else failed we could maybe try to salvage some kind of friendship from the ruins.














I surmised he was as nerdy as I knew I was, so I suggested a trip to one of my favorite places-- the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So on June 11 of 2011, (I had to search through Gchat to confirm this) we called it a date.



Click here for Mark's version -->