The New York Times Agency Photos
MODERN LOVE ADV04
(NYT15) UNDATED -- May 2, 2008 -- MODERN-LOVE-ADV04 -- Recently my mother asked me to clarify what I meant when I said I was dating someone, versus when I was hooking up with someone, versus when I was seeing someone. And I had trouble answering her because the many options overlap and blur in my mind. But at one point, four years ago, I had a boyfriend. And I know he was my boyfriend because he said, "I want you to be my girlfriend," and I said, "OK." (Illustration by David Chelsea/The New York Times)**ONLY FOR USE WITH STORY BY MARGUERITE FIELDS SLUGGED: MODERN-LOVE. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED.