The heart knows no distance

I always talk about my amazing family - my kids have been such a lifeline for me.... But, my "family" stretches far beyond the reach of my children.

I am grateful to have a loving, warm, extended family of cousins who constantly watch over me - no matter how far away they live!!  The genuine concern and love is so evident in their phone calls and texts.    Each one has a different style.... but their love always shines through.  They never stand on ceremony ... never wonder "what is the right thing to say".  Their agenda is always the same: to let me know they are thinking about me, see if I need anything, and to tell me they love me.  It always makes me smile to hear from them.

I have 9 first cousins - (18 counting their spouses).- from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Utah, and California....I am so blessed to have this relationship with most of my cousins' children (26 of them) as well!!  

"A heart is not judged by how much YOU love, but by how much YOU are loved by others". (Wizard of Oz)

Grooving - Part 4

Being back in the dating game has been both scary and enlightening.   Dating at 59 is a lot different than dating at 19!!

At 19, I think I was looking for a potential husband and father to my future children.  Now, I am just looking for someone to love and who will love me.

I want someone who thinks I am wonderful and who I think is a "stand-up kinda guy".  I want someone who thnks that their fanily is important, because my family will always be inportant to me.  I need someone who does not sweat the small stuff - I've been through a crap load of big stuff and the little stuff will never use up any energy in my life.  I want a partner who is just as comfortable sitting on the couch watching TV as he is in a tuxedo dancing the night away.

I have decided to be up-front and honest with anyone I go out with.  The first phrase that flows from my mouth is, "If you are looking for a bed-partner, please look elsewhere,  I've never been intersted in casual sex".  I've yet to have a man walk away from the table after hearing this from me.  Not sure if they just didn't want me to think they were shallow or they saw it as a challenge!  In any case, my main concern has always been ME and how I feel.

If I decided that I might want to go on a second date with a guy, at some point I would say, "If you have to choose between me and someone else, please do not choose me."  I would then explain that I was in a class of my own.  I needed to find someone who was going to love me like I was accustomed to being loved!!

I don't think I was so "in charge" of my life at 19.   It is nice to be so confident now. I understand that I do not have to settle for anything less that I want and deserve.

I must admit, I am enjoying the ride.....