On Life and Love After 50 eNewsletter – July 12, 2024
Tom Blake Columnist and Senior Dating Expert
| Get off the couch and out of the house Tom is reminded of the importance of social interaction for seniors I received a telephone call last week from Teresa, the first employee I hired at Tutor and Spunky’s, the Dana Point deli I opened in 1988. Remarkably, Teresa has worked there for 36 years. Teresa said a gentleman named Steve had telephoned the deli and asked how to contact me. He told her he had purchased at an estate sale a book I had written in 2006 titled, “Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?” He hoped I would be willing to sign the book. Teresa gave me his phone number. He googled me and sent me an email explaining the book situation. To be certain he was legitimate, I checked information about him on Google. I discovered he has owned SC Pacific Group, a real estate development and construction company for 30 years in nearby Laguna Niguel, and, he had been a chairman of the Laguna Niguel Planning Commission. Great credentials. Steve and I agreed to meet at Peet’s Coffee in Laguna Niguel. I arrived early, wearing my University of Michigan shirt emblazoned with the famous “M” logo. Soon, a woman came into Peet’s wearing an Ohio State shirt. I showed her my Michigan shirt. We teased each other about being rivals and exchanged football stories. She’s a writer in Laguna Beach, so I gave her a business card. We will likely be in touch. It occurred to me that I would not have met her had I not gotten out of the house. Steve texted a minute later, saying, “I’ll be the guy in the blue checkered shirt carrying a copy of your book.” Not 10 minutes later, he walked in and we both laughed. Steve said, “I enjoyed your book so much I had to find you and have you sign it.” I happily complied. Steve told me he had frequently dined at the Victoria Station restaurant in Newport Beach. He had as many stories about his past life experiences as I have about my experiences. I suggested he write a book about his fascinating life. He said he’d been thinking about it. I asked for his permission to use how we met and the details of our meeting in an eNewsletter. He agreed. I suggested we have a picture taken of the two of us holding the book. A woman standing nearby was waiting for her husband to bring her coffee. I asked if she would take a picture of Steve and me using my cellphone. She pointed to her husband and said, “I’ll have Mel take the picture. I’m Beverly. Who wrote the book?” I said I had, and mentioned a few details about meeting Steve to sign the book. She said her husband Mel is also a writer and a professional tennis player. He arrived holding their coffees. Steve and I introduced ourselves to Mel and Beverly. Soon, the four of us were chatting and exchanging information about writing and life. What a delightful couple. I gave them a business card and we agreed to be in touch. Again, I thought to myself, I would never have met these wonderful people if I hadn’t gotten out of the house. In the 45 minutes Steve and I chatted, we became friends. Steve said he would like to meet Bob Freeman, one of the three Victoria Station founders who now owns the Buena Vista restaurant in San Francisco, considered the birthplace of Irish coffee. Steve mentioned he would be in San Francisco later this month. I said, “If you are driving, will you deliver a case of my books to Bob? He sells the book in the restaurant. Steve said, “Great. Maybe that’s how I can meet him.” While driving home, I thought of that amazing hour at Peet’s. I have four new friends. That experience reminded me of the importance for seniors to get off the couch and out of the house and socially interact with people. Social interaction is important for one’s health. Socially active people are proven on average to live longer than people who are couch potatoes. Plus, mingling with people can help combat senior loneliness. Being lonely is not good for our health. I was pleased to be reminded of the importance of getting off the couch and out of the house. Adding to the coincidences of that day, at home I received an email from a man named Jay McGuffin, who lives in Antioch, Illinois, He ordered a “Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?” book, stating that as a customer, he frequented the San Francisco and Northbrook (Illinois) Victoria Station restaurants often. And as a new Champ, He is receiving this eNewsletter today. The photo below is of Tom and Steve (on the right in his checkered shirt) holding “Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?” If any Champ would like a signed copy of the book for $12, including shipping, email me at tompblake@gmail.com and I’ll explain how we can make that happen. |
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On Life and Love after 50 