A year ago today, maybe around 7 p.m., @TonyMazur tweeted me about the song stuck in my head at that moment–“My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit.
Since then, we have exchanged many, MANY more tweets, direct messages, Facebook posts, texts, phone calls and more. And we have accrued a number of other important anniversaries. Primarily that we started dating exclusively on June 5.
In the past almost year since Tony and I started dating, I’ve had many people reach out with questions regarding our relationship. Some have told me that they enjoy our back-and-forth banter on Twitter, others have asked how to meet a dateable person online, some have asked advice on how to have a healthy, public relationship on the social media site.
I wish I could claim to be an expert on Twitter dating, but I’m not. I only know what has happened in my case, which is unlikely to be a universal situation for all Twitter-using couples.
However, while I can’t speak for Tony, I do get asked about our situation often. I figured I might as well answer some of those questions for the handful of people who might read this.
We're adorable.
1. Did you and Tony meet on Twitter?
It is a true 21st century love story: Girl follows boy, boy tweets a music video at the girl, girl and boy randomly meet up at an Indians game… So the short answer to this is: Yes. Our initial interactions were via Twitter.
2. Were you looking for a boyfriend on Twitter?
No. Actually I was not looking for a boyfriend at all. In fact, I was happily single, and generally unwilling to consider dating. So I was not trying to date Tony when we first started tweeting each other. Nor was I expecting to be dating him when we first met. We just really hit it off, realized quickly that we were compatible, and both happened to be single. Tony was more proactively looking to date than I was (in general, not through Twitter), but I was easily charmed by his stupid sense of humor and inappropriate jokes. 
3. How did you make your relationship public on Twitter?
This was trickier. While I do not wish to divulge too many details, I was involved in a sticky situation with a former colleague of mine at my last place of employment. Because of the public nature of that situation, I was hesitant to be completely open about my relationship with Tony when it first began. When things settled down, he and I became more candid about the fact that we were dating. Basically, we didn’t hesitate to mention that we were together at times, doing the same activities. Eventually people started figuring it out and asking us if we were dating. We didn’t lie. After more time, it came pretty naturally. Most of our followers know we are together, and we are told regularly that they enjoy our banter–as for how we developed that… well, that’s just our personalities.
4. How did you start following each other?
Er, I dunno. I was following Clevelanders at random. Tony decided I was interesting enough to follow back. He probably realizes how wrong he was now. (Juuuuuuuuuuuust kidding.) (Maybe.)
5. How do you meet a boy/girlfriend on Twitter?
Er, I dunno. I can’t tell you how to meet a boyfriend or girlfriend in any place. Just interact with people. Don’t force anything. Be real and natural.
6. How do you handle your relationship being public?
This is even harder to answer. Neither of us have much to hide, aside from the fact that we initially were not flaunting our relationship. Much like our banter, this just comes naturally to us. Our priorities and values are the same, so there is no struggle for us in handling our relationship in any way. Heck, we don’t even fight. (Yet. All healthy relationships include disagreements. We have drastically different work schedules and do not live close enough to each other to spend a lot of time together during the week.)
I think that’s pretty much it. I’m sure I’ve been asked other questions I can’t quite remember right now. And there were obviously details left unsaid. But the moral of the story is: Twitter changed my life by bringing me and Tony together. I don’t care if that’s sappy.
Happy One Year Twitterversary, T-Maze. Love ya!
http://www.timetoast.com/flash/TimelineViewer.swf?passedTimelines=326978
