I’ll prove it to you.

Why of all days, when I’m frightened, exhausted, unable to sleep (again) do I bother to write? Because I believe Nora Ephron would. Yes, I know this makes no sense. (I don’t care.) To find something, anything, that will perk me up, make me laugh, and feel better, I usually write. Watch me channel Nora Ephron.

**Love in the Age of Digital Distractions: A Nora Ephron-esque Exploration**

Ah, love! That delightful, maddening, and often bewildering emotion that has inspired countless rom-coms, sonnets, and unsolicited advice from well-meaning relatives. It’s the thing that makes us swoon, cry, and question our sanity while we scroll through endless dating apps. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your heart races at the sight of someone in a coffee shop—or, more likely, why your heart sinks when you realize they’re just a barista and not the dashing stranger you had hoped for—welcome to the chaotic world of love.

Let’s start with the basics: Love is supposed to be magical. It’s that feeling you get when you watch a couple share a knowing glance across a crowded room, like they’re the only two people in the universe. And then there’s you, standing there, awkwardly trying to remember if you’ve left the stove on, feeling about as romantic as a block of tofu. But fear not! This is the modern era, and we’ve been gifted with tools to find our soulmates—or at least a decent dinner date.

Enter dating apps: a digital buffet where you can swipe left or right with the flick of a finger. If you’re anything like me, this is both exhilarating and exhausting. Each swipe feels like an audition for a role in a romantic comedy—except the script is written by someone who’s never actually been in love. You find yourself wondering, “Is he a genuine catch or just another ‘funny guy’ who uses puns as a defense mechanism?” The truth is, every profile is a carefully curated version of reality, like a designer handbag with a hidden flaw: it looks great until you try to use it.

And let’s not even get started on the bios. “Adventurous foodie looking for my partner in crime.” This immediately raises a red flag. First, it suggests that I should be prepared for spontaneous trips to exotic locales where we will eat things that could potentially lead to gastrointestinal distress. Second, it implies that if I’m not willing to break the law—perhaps by stealing a slice of artisanal pizza in Italy—I’m not the right match. But I’m just here for the pizza, people!

Then there’s the inevitable conversation that follows the initial swipe. If you’ve ever engaged in small talk over text, you know it can be akin to navigating a minefield. “So, what do you do?” is the classic opener, which immediately invites a discussion about jobs, hobbies, and whether or not they have an extensive collection of obscure board games. You must tread lightly, as this is where the sparkle of potential love can quickly turn into the dull thud of a bad date.

At this point, you may find yourself reminiscing about that age-old question: “What do you want?” It’s a deceptively simple inquiry that, when posed to a potential partner, can lead to discussions about life goals, travel ambitions, and how many cats are too many (the answer is always one less than you currently have).

Love, after all, is about compatibility. But what does that even mean? Is it sharing the same taste in music, or is it more about agreeing on the best way to binge-watch an entire season of a TV show in one weekend? Spoiler alert: it’s definitely the latter. In fact, the ability to seamlessly synchronize your Netflix habits could be the true measure of a relationship’s potential. If they can laugh at your favorite sitcom and tolerate your penchant for watching the same movie 27 times, they just might be a keeper.

And then there are those moments that feel lifted from the pages of a rom-com: the unexpected kiss in the rain, the sudden realization that you’ve found your person. But let’s not forget the small, mundane moments that often hold more weight than grand declarations. Sharing a bowl of popcorn while arguing over which romantic comedy is better—“When Harry Met Sally” or “Sleepless in Seattle”—is, in its own way, a mini love story.

As the relationship progresses, you start to accumulate a collection of inside jokes, shared experiences, and perhaps a few cringe-worthy memories—like the time you mispronounced their favorite author’s name for six months. But that’s what makes love so wonderfully human: it’s messy, it’s imperfect, and it’s often downright hilarious.

In the end, love is a journey filled with laughter, awkward silences, and the occasional existential crisis. It’s about finding someone who makes you feel a little less alone in the world, even as you navigate the absurdity of modern dating. So, here’s to love! May it always be as entertaining as a night spent watching the worst rom-coms imaginable, filled with ridiculous plot twists and characters you can’t help but root for. After all, if we can laugh at the chaos of love, then maybe we’re doing something right.