What we didn't make up is the part about dating. It can be so excruciating. I always feel I have to be careful about what I say, at least on the first few dates. Now I feel like I'm going in for a job interview every time I date. It seems like the stakes are a lot higher than when I was younger.
Stakes are high, indeed The stakes are stratospheric.
There are other changes as well. I'm not sure I know what's expected on a date these days. Part of the reason for Michael's dilemma is that the rules, often vague, have changed. This is particularly perplexing for middle-aged people who haven't dated in years. Take the concept of Independent Arrival, which dictates that on the first date, both parties supply their own transportation to a neutral site.