Dating someone not from Selma has drastically increased my car’s mileage and my cell phone minutes.
I get oil changes as often as once a month, have replaced my tires once and spent more money than I really want to admit on gasoline. I charge my phone in the car and every night because I use the entire battery in one day.
You just don’t realize these things when you commit to a long-distance relationship.
But it’s worth it. I’d rather be dating my boyfriend than not dating him, but there are days when the distance seems too far and the traveling makes me extremely tired.
When I moved to Selma, we had been dating a mere 3.5 months. I had barely enough time to get used to a routine with him in my life in the same city before I added five hours between us.
Talking on the phone and text messaging is the simplest manner to communicate, but that can become mundane.
After almost a year of dating long distance, we have found ways to be together, even when we are apart.
We talk on video chat, play online games like Wheel of Fortune, Deal or No Deal and Family Feud. I call him at my lunch break and when I get home at night. We watch the same cheesy reality shows while talking on the phone, laughing and poking fun of the people the whole episode.
I researched online for other suggestions for making a long-distance relationship successful, and I found an alarming amount of comments urging me to stay away that type of relationship. That wasn’t the encouragement I needed.
After weeding through the “don’t do it” messages, I found lists of simple things to do like sending e-mails of “I was just thinking about you. Hope you have a great day,” or
the old school tactic of writing a love letter and snail mailing it.
But however you make it work, and you can make it work, the most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to be long distance forever. At some point we will be in the same city again and I’ll relish in the weeknights when we go out for dinner or watch cheesy television shows as we sit side by side.

Laura Fenton is the education and general assignment reporter for the Time-Journal. She can be reached at 410-1744 or laura.fenton@selmatimesjournal.com.