Why it is time to forget Mr Right and accept Mr Right Now

I am very picky about everything from the crisps I eat to the toothpaste I use, to the type of bra I wear. So you can imagine my list for Mr Right aka Ann’s-future-husband at age 20. I came up with a list so elaborate it could put the fairy tale template of Prince Charming to shame.

My list read something like this: he had to be tall, dark and handsome, and at least 6 feet 5 inches. He had to be stinking rich, have a top job, drive the latest Range Rover (it had to be black) and own a house in one of the leafy suburbs of Nairobi.

Outrageous exaggeration

He had to have an impressive eight-pack (no flab allowed) and be a regular at the gym. A man with a hobby, maybe art or something snobby like polo or maybe chess. Not the usual run of the mill type of men who think bar-hopping is a hobby. Also he had to be kind, funny, respectful, honest, disciplined, loving and forgiving. The list went on and on.

An outrageous exaggeration? I think not. Just a lady who knows exactly what she wants!

After I was done with my list, I sat down and hoped my Prince Charming would ride into my life and sweep me off my feet. But I can assure you that in the many years that I have been on this dating scene I have not yet met a man who meets the requirements of my long list but I am not deterred, I have always been a patient person and I believe in getting the best or nothing at all.

I can proudly say I am single by choice, I will date but I will not settle until I find exactly what I want.

Criminal to be single

However, I am at that age where being single is perceived as some sort of crime by society and so as you can imagine, over the past few months I have attended millions of weddings. As usual at these weddings, there is always one annoying person who asks, “Are you dating anyone?” And when I reply, “No,” they come right back at me and give me that pitiful look like I am carrying some disease or something.

My older married sister does not help matters either being a self-proclaimed Dr Phil.

The other day while attending a mutual friend’s wedding she asked me, again, “Why are you single? Anyway, I know why you are single, you are just too picky, you need to learn to take what you get and settle or you will be a spinster for life!”

Easily available

Her solution to my single status was to hook up with Mr Fixer Upper/ Mr Potential/ Mr Ordinary. Basically she was asking me to ditch my “high” standards and settle for whichever Tom, Dick or Harry that came my way. To accept ambition-less Tom, jobless Dick or unfaithful Harry because they were the only men easily available.

I considered it for a second or two but when I remembered all my miserable friends who had settled on Mr Average, I thought no way Jose! I will admit as I have gotten older my list has changed but I am still picky and I am not settling. I am still waiting on my Mr Right or nothing at all.