After breaking off an eight-year relationship, I soon came to realize something new had popped up in the dating scene, and I was behind on the trend — texting.

I feel that I’ve always been up on technology; and I would even say I’ve been ahead of most people on most tech movements. But two years ago, I discovered that there was a whole new level of flirting, and it was all being done with a few words texted via a cell phone. I also soon learned that texting could become an obsessive way to judge just how “into” you he truly is.

My learning began after my first date. Only several minutes after hugging my date goodbye , my phone buzzed. I went over and saw the name of the man who had just walked out my door appear on my phone screen. I flipped open the cell cover and saw a sweet little message: “Had fun. Already looking forward to next time.” My heart melted, and that is when it began. Soon, he was texting sweet-little-nothings on a regular basis. I blushed and giggled, and loved every second of it, until it began to slow.

While it’s natural for things to decelerate as relationships progress, it almost became as agitating to not receive a morning colon, closed parenthesis (that is a smiley face) as it was to not have time for a morning cup of coffee. All those sweet texts become an addiction.

But I’m not alone. I’ve noticed all my girlfriends judging their relationships based on text-time response. In our heads we begin to believe if he texts back immediately, then the relationship is A-okay. However, if it takes a day before he responds, rocky times may be ahead.

It’s quite silly, and very unscientific. And while I’m listening to one girl talk about how it’s over because he didn’t text back within an hour, I can hear just how ridiculous this theory is. But, the moment it happens to me, I can’t help but also see impending doom ahead. And as texts dwindle, I’ve seen the fear build and turn my single friends to desperate texting. “Where are you?” “Please call…” “Colon, open parenthesis (that is a sad face)”

So, what to do? Well, just remember, while sweet texts in the early days are nice, they are much like the flowers you get on a first date, they may soon only be seen on the holidays. Try not to let how many vowels and nouns you receive in a day characterize the level of your relationship. And for those experiencing those early relationship texts, enjoy them while they last.

Singletons, a look at single life by WFAA.com staffer Marjorie Owens, appears Fridays.   E-mail o8sis