Brad Womack, The Bachelor, Made the Right Decision

I have to admit, last night I felt a bit jipped. Having tuned in to ABC's 11th Season of The Bachelor, I was already embarrassed about the amount of time I invested into what I believe to be an overly-idealistic and shamefully unrealistic way to find true love. In spite of my better judgement, I not only diligently watched Brad Womack break girls' hearts every week, but I felt licensed to have an opinion. I wanted him to choose Jenni.

On the night of the final rose ceremony I made margaritas, ordered pizza, and invited over my best friend. We both felt butterflies before the show! Would he pick Jenni or DeAnna? Who would go home broken-hearted and who would walk away arm-in-arm (and maybe even engaged) to the southern gentleman who had stolen the hearts of 25 strangers who just "knew" they were meant to be with him? My friend and I had high hopes it would be Jenni. But then we watched in disbelief as Brad sent a tearful Jenni home in the limo. We, like everyone else, fully expected DeAnna to be the lucky winner of Brad's heart. We sat with gaping jaws as Brad looked like he was going to propose to DeAnna, then dramatically paused, pulled at his tie and paced back and forth before making Bachelor history and sending the last girl home as well!

Even though I was a Jenni fan, I felt really badly for DeAnna. She experienced a moment of pure joy before discovering some pretty heartbreaking news on national television. As I watched her break down in tears and walk with Brad to her own limo, I would not have traded places with her for the world. Reality television can be a bummer sometimes. I asked the same question I'm sure other faithful viewers asked: why couldn't he have just gone along with it and chosen someone to get to know better? He didn't have to propose. I watched the show to see a lucky winner. It seemed that all of my hours watching The Bachlor were now meaningless. I felt like I might have felt had Sanjaya won American Idol. Was there any point to watch future seasons of The Bachelor if, in the end, absolutely nothing would come of it and everyone, including the bachelor, would go home broken-hearted and lonelier than ever?

But then I watched tonight's "After the Final Rose" episode in which Jenni and DeAnna confronted Brad in front of a crowd of women who clearly had it in for him (they booed him as he walked onto the stage). Both of the girls said they needed questions answered, but it seemed like they just wanted to know the same old same old: why hadn't he given them a chance? DeAnna took it a step further and seemed to try to manipulate him to ask her out after all! She "looked him in the eye" (a favorite phrase this season) and said she couldn't imagine him letting her walk out of his life a second time. Brad repeatedly tried to explain himself; though he had feelings for both of them, he was not in love with either of them and felt the hooplah of giving them the final rose would have been leading them on and setting them up for just more hurt in the end. Neither girl seemed content to take no for an answer. Especially DeAnna, who, if you ask me, loves DeAnna enough for both her and Brad.

It got me thinking: I think this show is ridiculous mainly because I don't think it is the proper context in which one can find true love. Yes, I know it has happened before - once, maybe twice - and yes, my mere intrigue turned into downright hopefulness that the season would have a happy ending, but that doesn't mean that two strangers finding a true love connection in six weeks' time is likely to happen again. Brad was simply being honest. He knew enough to know that he could not pursue Jenni or DeAnna honestly. If he had given DeAnna the final rose, he would not have stayed true to his heart, because in his heart he knew she was not the girl for him. Obviously, if he's willing to be on a show like The Bachelor, he wants to find true love just like everybody else! But just because 25 girls walked into his life to try to win his heart doesn't mean that one of them were going to be the right one. Brad might just be the most honorable bachelor ABC has ever put in the limelight! He had enough respect for Jenni and DeAnna to walk away from both of them and not give into the pressure of having to give away the final rose. Despite the hours I spent watching the show for nothing, I think he did the respectable thing.

Of course, everyone wants to say Brad has issues that hinder him from being able to fall in love, and even though Brad seemed to admit that himself, I don't know if he is so conflicted after all. Let's face it; he gave both girls chance and the right sparks just weren't there for him! When the right girl walks into his life, he'll know. I am sure Brad will be able to find true love - just not on The Bachelor. And once Jenni and DeAnna give their broken hearts more time to heal, they will be okay too. They are too attractive and interesting to be alone for long.

And as for DeAnna, who seems to be the kind of girl who's not used to being denied what she wants, I have a thought: one of her characteristics Brad most admired was her strength. Why shouldn't she use her strong will and determination to turn this experience into a good one and be the next Bachelorette? Even though Jenni was my girl, I'm sure all of this season's Bachelor viewers would love to see DeAnna find true love.