|
Senior Love can happen. Author and columnist Tom Blake provides dating information and advice for widowers, widows, divorced men, divorced women,
middle-aged singles boomer singles and senior singles who are dating again and hope to meet a mate.
Senior Love Can Happen
© 2004 by Tom Blake
July 28, 2004
Senior love is possible
By TOM BLAKE
For The Register's South County Weekly Newspapers
Do you think love has passed you by? That once you hit age 55, 60 or, egad, 70, it won't happen to you? So, you've given up on romance altogether. Fleetwood
Mac sang, "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." That's good advice because meeting someone is possible at any age.
Peggy Whiteside, 74, a widow for two years, lives in central New York near Syracuse. Tom Crowley, 73, a widower for a little over a year, also lives in New
York, but about an hour away from Peggy. "We were both very lonely, a really large hole in our lives," said Tom.
Without the Internet, they would have never met.
Both checked out
www.seniorfriendsfinder.com, a site that links
to many different matching sites.
"Neither of us realized when we first exchanged
timid notes last August that it would fill the hole
of loneliness and lead us to the wonderful love we
have," said Tom.
After several e-mails, a trust developed. Real names
and phone numbers were exchanged. A Sept. 4 lunch
date was scheduled. "There wasn't a moment of
silence – we talked, laughed and even cried – it was
a wonderful first meeting. We talked for seven hours
that day."
Peggy and Tom continued e-mailing and telephoning
and began seeing each other weekly.
"We spent hours and hours having serious discussions
on where our relationship was going and realized how
deep our love had blossomed," said Tom.
They had the time to devote to each other; both are
retired. Each has six children and many
grandchildren. They got to know each other's
families.
"We're older, our time is finite. We have 91 years
of marriage between us – we've been around the
block. Do we wait another four or five months to
marry? Those months can be wonderful, quality time
together, enjoying life."
This Saturday they will marry, followed by a
honeymoon in Canada.
They will maintain both residences. "No rush to
combine households," says Tom, "thus, we can
maintain contact with our respective communities,
churches, local friends, etc. Time to the north,
time to the south, whatever floats our boat, being
together in this wonderful new married and loving
relationship."
Peggy and Tom hope that by sharing their story older
people who are alone after losing their mates will
be encouraged. Another key to their success: being
close in age. Tom wasn't seeking a younger woman.
He found true love with a person older than he.
The Internet can be a useful tool in meeting a mate.
Which site is best – www.personals.yahoo.com –
www.thirdage.com – www.seniorfriendsfinder.com –
www.match.com – www.seniorcrush.com?
Test more than one and try to locate someone close enough to you so that getting together in person isn't a major trip.
And as always, when meeting strangers, be careful.
Take a lesson from Peggy and Tom by proceeding slowly and cautiously. Get to know the person before a face-to-face meeting. Trust your instincts. Share
with family and friends with whom you're meeting.
Now, get out there and search. And let us know what happens.
Weekly comments
Pat, Fountain Valley: "I've found a man who wants to share my life – an old friend who was in business with my husband when he died. We too have been
around the block. I bought a home in Prescott, Ariz.; we'll be moving there next month. Response: Love does happen to older singles, even here in O.C.
Notes from Tom Concert: Peppino D'Agostino, acoustic guitarist, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20, Dana Point Community House. Contact Claire Woodruff at
244-6656 or
claire@trjohnsonhomes.com Tickets $20.
I've published a 55-page electronic book on my Web
site, "After the Healing: A Guide Book for Widowers
and Widows." No shipping or handling charges.
Instant delivery. A simple download. Info at:
www.findingloveafter50.com
| 