Dating blind

If I were to win the lottery (which is doubtful, given that I've never purchased a ticket), one of the first things I'd get is laser eye surgery. Since grade school, I've had major vision challenges. As in, I can't see the "E" on the top of the eye chart. Yeah, I know that's what it is, but without my contacts or glasses, it's just a big black blur to me.

And while that's annoying, I am grateful for my 20/20 vision via assistance. My glasses may look like coke bottles (those of you under 25, Google what a coke bottle is), but I can see well while wearing them. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to truly be blind. But I'm guessing it's a frustrating world, trying to determine how something looks with no frame of reference. And even if your other senses are heightened, being able to smell, touch, taste, and hear something doesn't always equal knowing what it looks like.

I suppose that's how the term "blind date" came about. You agree to meet someone you've never seen. You put your faith in someone you trust or the internet and hope for the best. And even if you've had a phone conversation, exchanged e-mails, or cyber stalked him on Facebook, until you're in his presence, it's hard to know if there's a connection.

But instead of "blind," perhaps it should be termed a "pre-vision" date. You're going to see them on it. We once were blind, but now we see.

Before the dating scales are removed, I am impressed by wit and spelling prowess. If the dude doesn't know the difference between "you're" and "your" in a Facebook message, I'm less attracted. But if he has impeccable grammar and truly gets my sarcasm, he scores some points. Men who are funny and smart and have great jobs cause me to enter the night with optimism.

But the tough thing is when he's perfect on paper, but there's no spark. And I don't find it shallow to admit that I'm just not attracted to a guy. Because attraction is arbitrary and personal and can't be forced. Granted, guys can become more or less attractive over time, but if there's nothing there in the beginning, there's never going to be anything there for me.

I've had fabulous blind dates and terrible, unicorn-filled blind dates, but somehow I keep agreeing to them. Because you just never know. Maybe the next one will be the one when I meet "the One."