Emmaprovement Continues...

Recently, when making plans for a date, I called this guy to ask if we were still meeting at a particular bar. He, quite abruptly, said "No, we're going to the Opera".

In that one moment, my whole romantic life flashed before my eyes. All those crappy dates - the times the wankers made me split the bill, those awkward walks-of-shame home, all those times I gripped my phone hissing: "ring, f*cker, ring" - all suddenly worth it. Someone was going to take me to the opera.

I've never actually been to the opera (okay, technically, I went to Aida on a school trip, but that doesn't count). I've been saving it. Pathetic, I know. But for someone who got the exact red dress Julia Roberts wears to the opera in Pretty Woman copied for the Family Christmas Ball back in 1991, it's a big deal. For a long time, I wanted someone special to take me. Now - in the dusk of my holding-out-for-a-hero years - anyone will do.

A guy willing to stump up the cash for opera tickets (especially, fingers crossed, box seats) is probably going to call the next day. Maybe even, gosh, call the day after that, too. And, more seriously, doesn't every girl want to be able to use the best date-line ever from a movie: "In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight"?

Imagine that faith - I'm getting a little weepy just thinking about it.

I don't seem to be the only one swooning over opera. Even the poor seem to be getting on board. X-Factor (aka Chav Olympics) featured the opera-inspired Rhydian, and a new Kenneth Branagh movie "The Magic Flute" also features arias and what not. Opera seemingly is becoming the voice of the people.