We know you single folks are busy. iList Paducah's Kelsie Gray goes on that first date so you don't have to!

March 14, 2011

Matt Jaeger

Every once in awhile, an individual comes along who defies convention and requires something beyond the typical “getting to know you” interview synonymous with iDate. Matt Jaeger is one such person—a man of unconventional talents, endearingly bizarre tastes, uncommon humor and catch-me-if-you-can wit.

Rather than quizzing him on his desert island favorites, bumper sticker philosophies, and preferred pizza toppings, we issued a call to arms for all the Paduach ladies fortunate enough to know Matt Jaeger to try to put his awesomeness—his Matt-ness—into words. They rose to the occasion magnificently.

Read, be intrigued, and ask this boy out! He’s up for anything.

We’ll start with Dawn Durham and Cyn Kitchen’s primer, Thirteen Things to Love About Matt Jaeger:

1. In one brown paper grocery sack he can pack everything he needs for a weekend in a 4 star hotel.
2. He dances like he means it.
3. His hair can do tricks.
4. His laugh sounds like he’s singing.
5. He’s so smart it scares the shit out of me.
6. He can write a story, sing a story, talk a story, dance a story and be a story all at the same time. It oozes out of him.
7. He hearts kids.
8. Nothing is not funny to Matt.
9. He makes me wish I was single.
10. His karaoke routine could play on a main stage.
11. He holds his liquor well.
12. He eats peanut butter on his scrambled eggs.
13. I’ve never been around him without feeling happier for being there. Not once.

For most men, these 13 bullet points would suffice. As we discovered, however, there is more. Much, much more. For instance, it goes without saying that to garner heaps of praise and reverence from your own sister is a rare feat reserved for a rare man. Matt’s sister, Meredith, lets us know what a gem her brother is:

Everyone knows my boy is wicked smart! He’s funny and very handsome, but if you want to know the real reason Matt is awesome, you have to become one of the fortunate ones who get to call him family or friend. Matt is one of the kindest, sweetest and most loving persons I know. If you ever need someone, he is there without question with some good advice, a hug if you need it or maybe just a drink and a little booty shaking to put a smile on your face!

Matt with nephew Nicholas

Matt is not only loved by his sister, he’s also a little like Kix cereal—kid-tested and mother-approved. Sarah Black tells us more:

I think when you meet your future husband’s best friend and you immediately click with him, only good can come of it. Matt Jaeger is one of the easiest people to be around. He can be deep, but disarming; a comedian, but always authentic. He is real. He is fun. He cares. And his mind is never idle. His ability to connect with adults is only rivaled by his ability to connect with children. My children—all children—love him. If you want to laugh, think, laugh, reflect, laugh and be real, be with this guy. He’s the real deal.

It’s a universal rule and scientific fact that any man who owns a guitar, knows three chords and can croon a ballad or two is instantly 50 times more attractive to women than their non-musical counterparts. Matt is not just some three-chord pony, though. He can make women swoon with tunes by everyone from John Prine to the Magnetic Fields. Add a way with words (think poetry) into the mix, and you’ve got an alchemical elixir guaranteed to give any girl within earshot a case of the vapors. Get out your smelling salts, ladies. Here’s what women had to say about Matt’s musical talents, poetic prowess and other genteel habits:

An example of how sweet this guy is? He was bringing dessert to dinner and one of our group was vegan (for the week). What did Matt do? He did research online to find what snacks were vegan and bought them all!

My earliest memory of Matt is one of him being some kind of “roving musician” at Bible School. I think he was in high school, and he was being a very good sport, strolling around playing his guitar and singing while little kids pestered him in various little kid ways. That whole mental picture just about sums up Matt for me – he’s gentle, fun, patient, goofy, and very, very talented. All in all, he’s pretty awesome! — Barbara Williams

Matt’s singing moves me to tears, in that “OMG, his voice is amazing” kind of way. He has one of the Top 10 best laughs I have ever heard in my life, along with a wicked sense of humor which wears out my LOL keys. He constantly beats me at online Scrabble, which annoys me to no end. Matt reads books that I suggest, even if they’re by women, which makes him the only man I know who does that. He is a fantastic writer, and has become the sole first reader for my work because I trust him to be honest even if I don’t want to hear it. Yes, the dude is awesome. — Stephanie Bodeen

He writes, cooks, sings in a manly falsetto, listens and apologizes, has been known to levitate (in a non-Satanic fashion), tunes his own guitar and asks for directions when lost. Snap him up while you can! — Neela Vaswani

Did we mention how talented he is?

Matt Jaeger is that magical mix in a man of kindness and mischievousness. He is golden-hearted, noble and mysterious. Oh, and he is a troubadour. — Betsy

When a girl goes on a date with Matt, she can expect to laugh…a lot. Matt can discourse on any number topics, but he’s really in his element opining on fiction, cinema, alt-country music, craft beer, even the virtues of Teaberry gum. Once an initial shyness wears off, he’ll entertain with a song. His voice, like his personality, has range: from a soulful sweetness to the absurdly silly. Although he may replace the lyric “hold me closer, tiny dancer” with “hold me closer, Tony Danza,” Matt’s humor is not the cloying type one tires of quickly. There exists an intelligence, sensitivity and intuition behind the jokes, which makes you want to know him better. If Matt were a royal wedding, I would sell his commemorative plate. — Brandy Crist-Travers

Everyone who knows him would agree that he is funny, talented, witty, intelligent, creative and (most importantly) thoughtful. But we can’t stop there; the list goes on! He has the best taste in cheese, has an adorable hot dog roller, loves board games, enjoys night fishing and is a faithful friend to my mother. Lastly, it’s no wonder he’s the son of a preacher man: If you’d like to experience heaven on earth, Matt’s Italian beef is out of this world! — Rachel English

One of our favorite things about Matt? He’s not afraid to look silly!

It’s plain to see that Matt Jaeger is not just a man – he is an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a well-chosen sweater and hair you want to run your hands through. Rather than doing him the injustice of attempting to sum things up in the usual way, I will leave you with this parting thought, courtesy of author Connie May Fowler:

Forget that Dos Equis dude. Matt is the most interesting man on the planet. Indeed, if I were single and he were willing, I would do him.