My World Was on Fire and No One Could Save Me but You...
IgooAna. Getty Images.My world was on fire, and I couldn't save myself. I needed someone's help, preferably a woman's…
I never thought I'd end up in this predicament, but here I was, alone, trying to figure it all out. I hadn't dated in 40+ years. I reluctantly reentered the dating scene.
I avoided hardcore dating sites but was okay with activity sites, which are far less intimidating. I recently met a woman on one of those sites, and after an hour and a half texting, I felt a real connection. She's a nurse and completely understood what my wife and I had been through before she passed, which meant a lot to me. She's also fucking gorgeous, and that gave me one more reason.
A lot of women on the site will block you if you're too aggressive, so I had to be careful. I was holding two concert tickets and didn't want to go alone, and although I had some reservations since we'd just met, I said WTF and asked if she'd like to join me…
After a short pause, she texted, "Thank you! I'd love to go!"
I reacted like an excited teenage boy who had just secured his first-ever date. I couldn't believe the jolt it gave me! She seemed excited too.
We met at the venue, where I jumped in her car and helped her find parking. We sat in the car and talked for twenty minutes, and I felt like I had known her my entire life. Neither of us had any dating anxiety. I credit that to texting first and having compatible personalities.
She's a lot younger than me, and before I told her my age, I asked her not to turn and run; she's an athlete, and there was no way I could possibly catch her. She surprised me when she said my age wasn't a problem, and that I looked much younger. (Flattery will get you everywhere!)
The concert was great, and afterward we went to a local pub for food and drinks. Sitting across from this beautiful woman, with her full attention, was quite an experience, and I didn't want the night to end.
When we left, we walked to her car, and she insisted I get in and let her drive me to my car, which was parked in another lot.
I'm a gentleman, always have been, so I didn't want to push myself on her. I did ask to hold her hand, later explaining that Native Americans believe that when two people hold or shake hands, a part of each person's soul enters the other. Holding her hand was calming and really nice.
Before she drove away, we agreed we'd had a great night and had to do it again.
It had been an extremely difficult week, and for a lot of reasons, but when I drove home and looked in the rearview mirror, I had a big smile on my face, and it stayed there long after I pulled into my driveway 30 minutes later.
When you're young and dating, everyone has some carry-on luggage, but when you're 50+, it's normal to have baggage, and accepting that is important if you want to move forward, and we do.
We've been mad texting and planning our next rendezvous, and I can't stop thinking about her!
What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this wayWhat a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you…