Kayte Christensen: Confessions of a TV Addict

WNBA.com's fearless reality TV correspondent is back. Kayte Christensen of the Phoenix Mercury gives her take on Meredith's season as "The Bachelorette"

PHOENIX, Feb. 25, 2003 -- I never thought I would be so happy to see the last episode of this season. This is finally over and I no longer have to look at Meredith's scarves, sweaters, and pitiful baseball sized earrings. I also don't have to repeatedly watch her say that Matthew is the man she has been looking for all her life, only to watch him climb into a limo on his way back to Texas because Meredith would rather spend the rest of her life with someone that didn't even want her to meet his parents.

Confessions of a TV Addict. (Photo: Arizona Department of Health Services)

I think that I need to enter therapy after tonight. I know Meredith does. I've known that for some time now, but I need someone to explain to me why I care so much that some woman that I don't know made a decision to send a man home that every woman in the world would like to have down on one knee in front of them, all so that she could "spend the rest of her life" with a man that describes himself as being in a state of "flux." After watching the heart wrenching scene where Meredith tells Matthew that she was in love with Ian, a good friend of mine called to ask if I was crying. Of course, her husband was standing there like, "are you crying because some girl you don't know didn't pick some guy you don't know on a reality TV show?" What he doesn't realize is the reason that she was crying is because she promised herself that if Meredith didn't pick Matthew, she would divorce her husband and go after him herself. She wasn't crying for Matthew, she was crying for her poor, clueless husband!!!

I, myself, have to be completely honest that I could not fathom Matthew not being picked. Especially after how well his visit to Portland, OR to meet Meredith's mom, dad, brother Matt, and Uncle Steven went. After cruising down the Willamette River on the Crystal Dolphin, she said that he exceeded all of her expectations and was the guy she had always dreamed of. Her whole family was in utter amazement and awe at how well Matthew was put together. In fact, after meeting the family, Meredith and Matthew were able to spend some alone time with each other and she told him, "I'm putting it 110% on the line� since I met you, I knew I'd be honored if it ended with a ring."

Ian's visit, on the other hand, was just as weird as he is. He was absolutely freaking out before arriving because he didn't "see [himself] as the perfect candidate� I'm not homegrown, a family man, or stable� I don't have a job, know what I am doing with my life, I don't have a career� I'm in a state of flux." However, after answering the "Dad Bomb" not two minutes after walking in the door, Meredith's family thought he was a breath of fresh air. Her mom could see that her daughter was drawn to the excitement Ian could ultimately offer her. He is going to teach her how to windsurf and speak Portuguese. My only question is, doesn't that sound more like a vacation and not a way of life. I'm pretty sure that windsurfing is not a stable career choice. Matthew could not only offer her a stable family life and always be open, honest, and caring, but he could also afford to go on vacations where she could learn to windsurf or have a reason to speak Portuguese.

The most amazing thing about the whole show was not only that Meredith picked Ian, but shockingly that Ian decided at the last millisecond to propose to Meredith. He picked out a ring, took it with him in case there was a slight chance that his "instinct" would tell him to propose. And, believe it or not, he got caught up in the moment of Meredith telling him, "I know that I will always take care of you and you'll never have anything to worry about." And then he proposed! Shoot, I think he was just waiting to see if she would promise to support his butt in case it stayed in a state of flux for the rest of his life. If all else fails, they could pawn the three-and-a-half carrot princess cut diamond ring the show paid for and live on the beach in Brazil, drinking coconut milk and eating bananas.

On a positive note, neither one of them have jobs that are tying them down to a place of residence at this moment. They both have a storage unit, one in New York and one in Portland. They could upgrade to a larger unit and technically have a permanent home in Portland and a vacation home in New York or vice versa. Their options are definitely open at this point!

I really don't know what either one of them are doing with their lives right now. But I will end with this in mind� Meredith said, "there is no doubt in my mind that Ian can be the type of guy I am looking for." I am not claiming to be a relationship's therapist or expert, but I can say you never go into a relationship thinking there are things about your partner that you can change. Believe me, you can't count on changing him/her, and even if you do, you'll discover more and more things that you will want to change. Before you know it, that person will not be the person you fell in love with. The real joy about relationships is learning to love your partner's imperfections along with the things that make them perfect in your mind.

Until April, when the next Bachelor will have twenty-five eligible bachelorettes to toss the pigskin around with!!!