Below is the Preface to my story. Hopefully this will entice you enough to make you want to see how it all ends. If so, visit my webite and go to the link titled, The Match. Thanks
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Preface
All names and places have been changed to protect the innocent. The events and feelings portrayed are real.

The Match is a true story of my experience with a dating service. I will begin with an explanation of how this all came about.

I joined a dating service (from now on, it will be referred to as The Service) in September of 97. I wasn't thinking straight when I joined. I had a miserable day at my new job. Reality hit me in the face like that softball did back in 7th grade...I realized that the man I liked, didn't like me "that way"....I realized that I was alone in this world and was going to turn 31 years old. Reality stung. Reality sucked. Reality drove my Jeep to The Service and forced me to sign the contract that guaranteed that I would be introduced to 12 wonderful men. Why only 12 dates? Reality couldn't afford more than 12.

I carefully completed all of the questions about what I like, what I want the other person to like, how he should look, how much money I want him to make and many other questions. Everything had to be answered carefully----this was going to determine whom I would get to go out with. Needless to say, I wasn't very choosy, I figured that if he was a man, and he wanted to go out with me, then that was good enough for me. I finished the questions and was ready to go home.

When I walked out of that office, I had a little more spring in my step, the sky was brighter, the clouds had disappeared and I could take a deep breath of relief. I was taking control of my life and choosing how my life would be from that day forward. That wonderful feeling lasted till I got out of the parking garage. At which point, I started to panic at the thought of how much money I just paid to meet a man. Actually it was 12 men, but for some reason, I started to think 12 wasn't going to be enough. I started feeling the walls of the Jeep close in on me. All of a sudden it got dark outside and I couldn't see the road because my eyes were swelling up with water. What the hell did I just do?

I pulled over and I re-read the contract. I guess I missed the Non-refundable part. Now, what was I going to do? Who could I even tell? Only a desperate person would join something like this. I am not that desperate, am I? Well, I knew for sure, that I would never tell anyone what it cost. If they don't know how much it cost, that may help dim the "Sucker" sign flashing above my head. Now how was I going to explain my actions? I had to come up with a plan.

After much thought, I couldn't come up with any good excuses for my actions. I didn't have the energy to even think about a plan. All I wanted to do was wake up and realize that this had all been a bad dream. No such luck. I decided that my best course of action was to just consider this an expensive learning experience. If I met some nice guys and made some new friends, then that would be great. If I actually do end up meeting the man of my dreams then that will be even better. Sometimes we do crazy things.

So, if you have never done anything like this and always wondered what it would be like, this is your chance to read all about it. Each chapter in The Match is titled, Bachelor #.... Hope you find it as interesting as I did. At least you won't have to try to find something to wear for each date! Those were the hardest decisions!