Abby Dates Austin
Abby Dates Austin: Meet CultureMap's newest dating columnist
Editor's note: For almost two years, Mikela Floyd has been chronicling her dating life in her Sex and the Capital City column. Every two weeks, Floyd let us read all about the embarrassing moments, promising kisses, painful heartbreaks and funny things that make dating in Austin, well, weird.
But then something happened; all of this dating led to an actual relationship. SATCC transformed from a dating column into a place to examine the intricacies of joining two lives together. As SATCC continues to grow into its new incarnation, we are developing a new column for Austin's dating set. In this first installment, we are pleased to introduce Abby Carney to our readers in her new column: Abby Dates Austin.
In so many ways, I feel I must be the most unlikely dating columnist. My last "date" was with a guy named Dong, an architecture student I met on a flight from Stockholm to Berlin last year, while I was living in the German capital. He was nearly an hour late to our date, and not altogether charming. A large part of me went out with him just so I could say I went on a date with someone named Dong.
So I’m not your typical alley cat, on the prowl and looking to settle down. I’m more so looking for novelty, compelling conversation, and fellow adventurers. Extra points for good chemistry. But when opportunity knocks, I do answer. I am always honest, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
In my first three months, I’ve met up with a Craigslist Missed Connection that was not intended for me; met someone who made stars dance in my eyes; was solicited for sex by a skeezy lawyer; and learned that cowboys make wonderful dancers, but terrible lovers.
Two pairs of my great-grandparents met and fell in love in Austin, so it begs the question —is there some old Irish magic my ancestors brought here? Is it meant to be a love spell for me as well? (A large part of me hopes not; I have many more miles to go and many more adventures in me, and I’m not ready to slow down anytime soon.)
My grandmother’s parents met working together in the Capitol. My great-grandmother was a typist, and my great-grandfather — having just returned from war — swooned for Ethel Mae, and made her his bride. Family legend has it they even inscribed their names on the ceiling of the Capitol.
My grandfather’s parents were both born deaf and mute, and met while studying at the Texas School For The Deaf. I don’t know much about their romance, except that they didn’t need to speak to express their love for one another. They raised four healthy children, the youngest and scrappiest of which became my grandpa, John.
Judging by my ancestors’ luck with love in Austin, the odds are in my favor. So why not keep an open mind and heart to potential suitors in the Lone Star State?
I really dig weird. Would you expect anything less from a gal whose first kiss played out on Halloween as Labyrinth played in the background? A leather-clad, Goblin King Bowie crooned to us as I reveled in an entirely new universe that had just opened up to me. It really set the tone for my romantic tastes and, thus far, Austin has lived up to its strange reputation, delivering ample doses of weirdness for this Southern girl gone west.
Two pairs of my great-grandparents met and fell in love in Austin, so it begs the question —is there some old Irish magic my ancestors brought here?
In my first three months, I’ve met up with a Craigslist Missed Connection that was not intended for me, who ended the night by making out with my ear. Yes, my ear. I met someone who made stars dance in my eyes and my heart catch in my throat. (I asked him out, and never heard from him again.) I was solicited for sex by a skeezy lawyer who interviewed me for a Publicity and Promotions job. I interviewed Romeo Rose (and had the sweet opportunity to throw a glass of water in his face). I also learned that cowboys make wonderful dancers, but terrible lovers.
So, despite my fumbling, awkward ways, I do know a thing or two about dating and all the joys, tingles and anxieties it brings. I pour my heart and soul into everything I do, and I wholeheartedly believe in love. I am so madly in love with life and the world around me.
Sometimes this can come off as disinterested, because I’m caught up in my own land of pure imagination, and I’m perfectly happy there, so it doesn’t seem that I want to be pulled from my reverie by some Prince Charming. But truth be told, I’m eager to share that fantasy land with someone. Grinning at the thought of my own Moonrise Kingdom-esque romance. A kooky co-pilot to climb trees, build forts, and with whom I can ride trains, planes and rickshaws.
Who knows if I’ll find “true love” or not, but at least we can have fun figuring it out together — and laughing about it all along the way. I’m hoping this column will be a way to shed some light on common issues within the Austin dating community, both light hearted and serious.
And I promise to always be honest with you.
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You can follow Abigail’s journey on Twitter @AbigailDatesATX. Feel free to ask questions, she might answer one in her column.