Last Names and Cross Streets

**Guest Blogger Rachel L.: An important lesson that we shouldn't ever forget. Enjoy!**

As Monson already previously touched on, safety is key when dating. Whether you met the person at a bar, online, a set up from a family member, wherever—it is crucial that you take precautions to make sure that your ass is covered (recovered?) if you go missing.

As part of my own personal safety procedures, I always text my bestie (Rach) to let her know where I’m going and who I’m going with. This is usually just a quick text right before I leave that says “Hey, I’m meeting so-and-so at whatever location.” I try to give first name last name and I tried to be specific about what place. Give cross streets and name. It’s usually followed by “if I go missing, start there.” Gotta have my bases covered, ya know? Same goes if the date progresses and we go somewhere else. I try to let her know where and also let her know if it is going well or not!

Just recently I met a guy at a casino. The casino is a pretty cool place to meet a guy if I do say so myself.  If your single and haven’t tried it yet you should! My friends and I just happened to sit next to him and I was pretty tipsy so I immediately struck up a conversation with him because I thought he was cute. I find out his name, we chat and laugh, we’re getting to know each other while I lose all my money and he makes like $500. Apparently his luck turned around right when I sat down next to him. Convenient for me. The night ended well (and by night I obviously mean day since we met at like 5 AM and he needed to take off at like 10 AM). We held hands a little, he got my number and we parted ways.

He told me he’d text me and I told him flat out, “If I don’t hear from you I’m going to be mad. And no 3-day bullshit, I’m not a fan of that.” I heard from him the same day. Sometimes direct and to the point can really pay off.

All Saturday night, All Sunday day and night, and all day Monday we’re texting and IM’ing on Google chat non-stop. It was the easiest time that I’ve ever had trying to get to know someone in such a short period of time. Espeically considering that text and IM are generally not the best way to have a conversation.

Tuesday after texting a bunch throughout the day he tells me out of the blue that him and some friends are going to the Casino. They should be there at like 10 PM and that I should meet them. I’m in. I get ready and send Rach a text saying “hey, I’m going to the casino with so-and-so (first name last name) if I go missing start there.” I go to the casino, hang out for a couple hours, get a smooch goodnight (ok, a couple smooches) and head home. On my way home I text Rach to let her now I’m still alive and on my way home.

The following day I get up to go to work. I’m a bit tired from going to the casino, but whatever, if it works out with him the lack of sleep will all be worth it. In my rush to get to work I accidently forget my cell phone at home. I forget my phone pretty frequently. At least once a month, so this isn’t completely unheard of. I debate going home to get it, but I’m so far behind at work I decide not to.

I left the house at 8:15 that morning and didn’t get home until 8:30 PM. When I finally get home, what do I find on my phone? A text from Rach asking about the date, followed by a voicemail from a very concerned Rach asking why I never texted her back and that she thought I was safely on my way home the night before, followed by another voicemail from Monson concerned because Rach was concerned.

Of course I immediately call both Rach and Monson to let them know that I’m fine other than the fact that I left my cell at home over the course of a 12 hour work day. Rach texts me back after not answering my call and says that she was literally in her car on the way to my place. I talk on the phone with Monson and she says that she was in my apartment complex trying to find my apartment. I let them know that they can call off the hounds! Eesh – forgetting my cell had repercussions I wasn’t prepared for.

It’s nice to know that if I were to really go missing I’d have panicked friends trying to beat down my door. Good thing Rach has my spare key though, I’d like to get my deposit back.

Moral(s) of the story? 1. Always be safe when dating new people. 2. Have really good friends, and do what it takes to make sure that they stay you’re really good friends. 3. Don’t forget your cell phone at home. Or if you do, take a quick break to go back and get it.

--Monson’s Equally Hopeful Friend, Rachel