On Life and Love After 50 eNewsletter – May 29, 2020
Finding love when you live in Barra de Navidad, Mexico
The inputs I receive from our Champs help keep this eNewsletter fresh. Sharing some inputs with you today.
Shelley, San Diego, wrote, “I liked John’s suggestion to women about listing what they can bring to the table on their profiles. I’d like to share my experience.
“My husband of 40 years and soulmate died unexpectedly in 2014. I was heartbroken and felt as if my world had collapsed-well it HAD!
“A year later, I tried OK Cupid and met a man I liked, but later found out he was married!
“A year after that, I tried Seniors Meet (Now, a part of the OurTime group of sites) and was contacted by several scammers and three younger men looking for sugar-mommas! I got off that site after two months!
“My profile stated what I was looking for and what I have to offer as well as what I did NOT want. Here’s a summary of my profile:
“I am a widow of over two years–intelligent, independent, fun-loving, warm and affectionate. I am healthy, health-conscious, fit & active–you should be also.
“I’m an educated, retired professional-no children. Tall and thin with many interests.
“I am looking for a long-term committed relationship with the right man. I have done a lot of work on myself to heal.
“I have the maturity and communication skills to work through differences in healthy ways. I am loving, caring and kind.
“Your age should be 58-70. I am responsible and can take care of myself. You need to be also. I am not looking for a ‘friends-with-benefits’ relationship. Or, a married man! I’m not eager to rush into anything. I want to develop friendship first. Please be local and sincere.
“In April, 2017, I met the man who is now my significant other. We met at the museum where I was doing volunteer work as a docent.”
Probably not a Match but worth a try
Susan wrote, “I like what John said in last week’s article about women including what they can bring to the table on their online profiles.”
I wrote back, “Where are you living and what is your age?”
Susan said, “Virginia, age 78. Why?”
I replied, “Ten minutes ago, I received an email from a high school buddy. His name is Carm. His significant other passed away last year. He emailed: ‘I never tried an online dating site and assume it’s not practical now that I live abroad. I would like to find a partner, though.’”
I said to Susan that since she and Carm had contacted me within 10 minutes of each other, I thought “What if?” Thinking, wouldn’t it be a co-incidence if she and Carm were a match?
I also mentioned to Susan that I wondered how close she and Carm were in age, and how far away they lived from each other, which is why I had asked her.
Turns out their ages are within two years of each other—perfect fit. However, they live 2,576 miles from each other, according to a website I checked. (The site added that it takes one full day plus 19 hours of driving straight through—43 hours of driving, from Virginia, to Barra de Navidad, Mexico, where Carm lives). Not so practical.
However, Carm sent me his online profile, which I had suggested he create. Carm’s profile has a solution for getting to his far-away location; it’s highlighted in yellow below.
“Carm’s profile says:
‘80-year-old man interested in a woman of similar age that would enjoy visiting me in a fishing village in Mexico (ZLO airport). I own a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house with a modern kitchen and a large garden in a walled compound. I’m healthy and interesting — a retired economist and journalist and watch MSNBC/CNN regularly.
‘I’m looking for a like-minded, vigorous woman that lives not too far from Barra de Navidad, Mexico, or, I would split airfare from the States if/when applicable for a visit. In the meantime, let’s chat lodise0711@hotmail.com.’
He included a current picture of himself, and the garden he loves in Barra.
My buddy Carm who reminds me of Ernest Hemingway
The garden in his yard, to which Greta and I can attest, having been there
So, there you go, Susan. If interested, send Carm an email.
Then, I reminded myself that I’m not a matchmaker, as I’ve often mentioned to Champs. Think about it–matchmakers don’t introduce people living 2,567 miles apart. That being said, however, other Champs are welcome to contact Carm as well.
A reminder about scammers
Champ Ben commented on last week’s eNewsletter: “I never thought of adding ‘what do you bring to the table’ comments- instead of just rehashing your profile. I think signing up for a dating site is an investment in YOU and ‘There’s no downside’ – it’s about what you want in a relationship and have faith each day- it’s about attitude! Match.com has scammers on it- BEWARE!”
Tom’s comment: “All dating sites have scammers, which is a downside to online dating. Plus, reports from our Champs have warned us about Match.com. Trust your instincts, everyone.”
Champ Terri shared, “Unfortunately, the last time I mentioned what I had to offer, a man fed off what I wanted so he could be taken care of whilst sexting on POF (Plenty of Fish).
“So scary out there, con people looking for a ride. It has quelled my wanting a relationship and I do have lot to offer. It’s sad the way some people think.”
(Terri, do you live near Barra de Navidad, Mexico? Just asking…)
Also, last week, we included a photo of Champ Chris appearing in the movies Jaws and The Godfather. I made a mistake on Chris’s age and his wife Tina’s age. I said they were 84 and 77, respectively. True age: Chris is 86; Tina 79, which makes them an even more amazing couple.
Champ Mark, my former dentist now living in Palm Springs, a man of few words, wrote; “Dating sites are a waste of time—get out there and meet a REAL person.”
Response: “You’re right Dr. Wilson. But, a bit difficult under the current circumstances. When Greta and I were in Palm Springs two weeks ago, it looked like a scene from a Western movie. Everybody wearing masks. Bars, restaurants and gathering places closed tighter than a drum. I guess it’s lightening up out there a little, but still hard to meet new people. Ralph’s and Rite Aid were open. but masks were required.
Part 2 – Finally, a 60-year project is completed
Without things to do during these stay-at-home times, I’d go nuts. So, I decided to finish a project that has been on the back burner for 60 years.
In the summer of 1960, I went to Europe with four other guys. We lived in a VW bus. Oh yes, it was crowded. We visited 15 countries in 84 days. Our final 16 days were in Rome, taking in the summer Olympics.
We consumed far too much beer at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich and on a picnic while sitting under the 1952 Winter Olympics ski jump in Oslo. I thought we were goners when the police in Communist Yugoslavia pulled us over in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. We flew home on the USA Olympic team charter plane, from Rome, with a young man named Cassius Clay. I kept a diary.
I had always wanted to write a book about that experience. I completed the book last week. It’s an ebook. No printed copies available. Title: “84 Days Through Europe in a VW Bus. Summer of 1960.” Perhaps some of you were in Europe that summer, or some other summer. Might trigger some memories.
If any of you would like to download a copy to your computers or Kindles, the price to you is $0.99. (Ninety-nine cents; A 75% discount vs. the public’s price of $3.99). Takes a couple of hours to read.
Here’s how you do it:
The book is on Smashwords, which happens to be the largest ebook bookstore and ebook distributor in the world.
The first time you visit the Smashwords site, you will be prompted to create a free Smashwords personal account. Just enter your email address and create a password. Go to www.smashwords.com . Easy as pie. That takes about 20 seconds. Write the password down somewhere so you will remember it when asked in future visits.
After creating your account, enter my name Tom Blake in the search box. The covers of the books I have on the site will appear. Click on the “84 Days Through Europe in a VW Bus” icon.
Then click on “Buy.” After that, you will get a prompt for a coupon, which will entitle you to your $.99 copy. Enter this coupon code WR49Q
You can either download the book to your computer (download epub or original document) or Kindle (Kindle use the Mobi download). Feel free to save it to your device. Or, simply read it with Smashwords’ online reader.
Email me with comments or observations (tompblake@gmail.com). Remember, you will need to create a Smashword account on your first visit. Then, when you return to the site in the future, just enter your password.
On Life and Love after 50 