When my husband of 20 years left me I was stunned. I didn’t see it coming. After crying in a fetal position for a week, I had a talk with myself. I decided I was going to see if I could turn around the situation into something positive. I had a knack for doing so…
Are you ready for Mr. Great?
Dating angels
What is a dating angel? No, not the person you are dating — although some of them can be angelic. A dating angel is a stranger who helps you feel good about yourself. Someone who gives you an emotional lift, who flirts with you, or makes you feel attractive. For example, I was sitting at…
Guys make a great first impression with a small gift
The other day I had a first date with a guy who brought me a present — a recent bestselling book he thought I’d like. It was a great gift, as it is in the genre I read and I hadn’t read it yet. Thumbs up! One guy’s first-date gift was a CD of romantic…
Ambivalence
Ambivalence is the bane of the dating world. I’ve had plenty of pleasant dates with guys who were smart, educated, successful, attractive yet I felt if I saw him again, fine; if not, fine. I debated with myself whether I’d accept a second date or not. On the one hand, there was nothing odious or…
Pictures: To post or not to post — that is the question
At lunch today, a single friend was lamenting the challenge of finding Mr. Right. In her early 40’s, never married, educated, intelligent, funny and beautiful, she wants to have a family and is feeling the pressure. When discussing online dating sites, she said she doesn’t post her picture because she wants men to be attracted…
Dating karma
I believe what goes around comes around. How you treat others is how you will be treated. Of course, there are always exceptions — you were cranky with someone and she went out of her way to be nice. Or you were nice, and he was mean. But generally, I believe if you are polite,…
Truth is stranger than fiction
I have had a few strange encounters during my dating adventure. None of them I could have imagined. Today I was contacted by a priest! His picture showed him in black priest attire (what is that called? Vestments? Cassock?) and white collar! I assume he is Episcopalian, but who knows? It reminded me of some…
Becoming smitten with the fantasy
I’ve been surprised when men become smitten with me without yet meeting me. Perhaps we’ve had some interesting emails and phone calls, and they begin professing their love — or lust — for me. It’s happened enough times, I’ve decided they fall for the fantasy. When I was first dating, it happened to me. Now…
Boomerang boyfriends
Last night I got a call from a guy I had one date with four months ago. He wanted to see if I was available. I’ve had guys break up with me and a week later want to get back together. I call these Boomerang Boyfriends. You stop seeing each other for whatever reason. Perhaps…
Shopping for men
Dating life can be brutal. You make an effort to look nice (I call it getting “dated up”) to meet someone new, then he either doesn’t contact you afterwards, tells you he’s not attracted to you or there’s none of that elusive “chemistry.” You have to have perseverance and hope that someone for you is…
Dating is like Baskin-Robbins
I compare my philosophy of dating to visiting Baskin-Robbins where I ordered vanilla for 20 years (maybe it was Rocky Road at the end!). While I enjoyed vanilla, I want to try new flavors. And I didn’t want to jump from vanilla and make a commitment to butter pecan without having tasted a little pistachio,…