The Dating Diaries: Throwback Thursday

I almost forgot about this one. Which would have been tragic, because it’s too good not to share.

How to start? 

Remember what you considered romantic as a teenager or maybe even dating in your early twenties? And I assume you are in touch now with how it kind of makes you cringe to even think about what you used to think of as sexy?

This is a story about a guy who apparently had such success in his youth with his Rico Suave moves that he never felt the urge to change or upgrade them.

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Dating Diaries: An Awkward Moment

“Oh, sh**!”

I work in an open office environment so pretty much every head turned my way. I sat at my desk, staring down at my phone in horror. I looked up to see everyone’s quizzical stares and started laughing. Sometimes it’s the only thing you can do.

5 Minutes Earlier

A box of beautifully decorated chocolate-covered strawberries was delivered to my desk. There was no note, but I’d been dating someone for a couple months so I had no doubt whom the gift was from.

I shot him a text: “You’re the best! I love chocolate-covered strawberries.”

And the inevitable reply: “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

In case you’ve never been there, receiving a text such as this is not a happy feeling.

I texted back: “Are you being serious?”

Him: “Yes. I assume someone sent you strawberries, huh?”

I’m a writer and I can tell you, there simply is no good answer to that question.

Luckily, the guy I was dating took it in stride. As for the strawberries, I racked my brain and asked a few people but could never figure out who sent them. It wasn’t until months later the person—a guy I’d dated some time before, briefly, before it ended badly—had sent them.

Awkward dating moments. You’ve got to love them.

Cheers,

Dena

The Dating Diaries: Convenience Backfires

In an admirable “don’t-dish-it-out-if-you-can’t-take-it” display of solidarity, today’s Dating Diaries doesn’t call out the bad behavior of men. Instead, I’m pointing the finger at myself.

Naturally, when you start dating after 20 years of marriage, safety is a top concern.  It ranks right up there for me with “convenience.”

So when I started online dating and I got past the “I’m pretty sure you’re not an ax murderer” stage and it was time to meet, I picked a sushi restaurant near my home. 

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50 Years and Counting

I have coffee every morning at my gym with a group of retirees.  Last week, one of them mentioned he was taking his wife out to dinner to celebrate 55 years of marriage.

“Aw, you’re just a kid,” said another. “My wife and I are celebrating 62 years this August.”

“I’m getting close to celebrating 50 years myself,” said another.

There was silence as the group, who’ve known each other for years, exchanged puzzled looks. 

“Well, I mean, 50 years if you count them all up consecutively,” said the guy.

 I cracked up. Turns out he’s been married four times. “Just so you know,” I said, “That 50 years doesn’t count.”

“Time served is time served,” he said.

I love morning coffees.

Cheers,

Dena