Pandemic dating is reminiscent of the ’80s

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series.

Through the smoke-filled, dimly lit fraternity house basement, I saw my future wife.

She was standing with friends while Snoop Doggy Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” thumped in the background. Red Solo cup in hand, I shuffled my way across the damp floor to say hi.

We could barely hear, let alone see each other. She smiled. We talked and laughed. I was predictably awkward (she’s way out of my league), but she agreed to go out on a date with me anyway.

Well, sort of.

I’m not sure anyone actually dated in college in the 1980s and ’90s, at least not in the traditional sense. What our society defines as dating ritual often includes asking someone to dinner, setting a pickup time and looking our best in hopes that chemistry and luck lead to a second date.

But college dating was a different experience. We’d pick a movie at Blockbuster, order a pizza and hang out in the living room of someone’s apartment — often with roommates lurking about.

Read more at https://www.vindy.com/life/lifestyles/2020/04/pandemic-dating-is-reminiscent-of-the-80s/ (may encounter paywall).