Growing a New Chapter
Three years into my widowhood I realized that I was unhappy living alone. I felt more like a half of a whole than a whole person. The world, my community, is certainly still geared to couples life. While weekdays could be readily filled, evenings and weekends remained difficult. Adult children and grandchildren are busy with their lives, or live far away. Friends are off with their spouses doing couples things and invitations are rare. Singles are plentiful and my Meet-Up groups certainly allow for 7 nights of activity, if I so choose. But how much Trivia, bar eating and dancing can one do? For me, once a week of these inconsequential activities is enough. Along with Pickleball, mahjong, and stitchers, I have social contact. What I thought I needed was a mate, a special partner, a Stu stand-in if not a replacement. And so I joined two dating sites. I learned there are many lonely older men, some widowed, other...