Elle has been looking for love for a while now, but fans of her column know she’s experienced her fair share of ups and downs. As 2021 comes to a close, she wonders if it is all worth it. Is this really her last tango, or will she give love another try?

Dating in 2021 has been particularly discouraging. The way some men behave is mind-blowing. I had a guy video call me while he was in the shower and made a habit of making video calls while watching tv. I guess that was his way of spending quality time while social distancing? 

But believe it or not, that’s not even the wildest thing that has happened to me out here. My grammar school crush found me on Facebook. I had not seen or thought about him since 1993. While we were catching up, he asked if I was involved. I told him, no, and we made plans to go to dinner the next night. I could not believe that a man I had the biggest crush on was actually taking me out after all of this time. Your girl felt like she was winning. 

On the day of the date, he called to confirm the meeting and the address. I should have seen the red flag when he suggested meeting me at a tire shop. But he said it would only take about 30 minutes and that we could leave from there. We went to the liquor store while we waited. I don’t know why these dudes try to drink with me. They always fall before me. We were catching up and laughing, and he was saying all the right things. It was like he was in the room when I talked to God about what I wanted in a man. Did he have a copy of my journal? Well, he got drunk after two cups, and we never made it to dinner. He called the next morning to apologize for the night before and ask if he could make it up to me later that day. He had to go to a dinner, and he wanted me to be his date. We planned to meet at his home at 6 pm and go from there. He knew I was on my way, but he wasn’t dressed when I pulled up. He told me he needed to run and check on his grandmother in the city and would come back and get dressed. Again, I did not see a reason not to believe him.  Why did he go to the Leaf wack spot on Cicero and Gladys? Your girl was too done. This dude acted like I didn’t know where we were and that I didn’t see that leaf blunt he was trying to hide when he got back in the car. When we got back to the car, he asked me to follow him to his house. 30 minutes later, he called to ask where I was. Needless to say, I won’t be going anywhere with him again.