These days I have a saying that I use with my kids and grandkids quite often. “I may be old, but I’m not dead!”
Too graphic?
Maybe, but it definitely drives home my point. While I might be on the far end of the human age spectrum, I’ve got a lot of life, joy, and love left in me. That’s one of the reasons I wrote Money or Love.
As the book tagline details, this novel is about internet dating from the far side of 40. What the story reveals is a blend of real life online dating experiences — -good, bad and dangerous — -along with a heart-warming tale of womenfriends, family, and our never-ending need for love…on every level, at any age.
In writing this book, I drew from my own internet dating experiences, invested time interviewing people about their online dating endeavors, and researched online dating sites. Then I blended it all together in a light-hearted storyline that I hoped would encourage people to look for love at any age, while also being safely aware of the pitfalls of virtual dating.
Recently, the producers of the reality TV shows, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, announced that this fall they will launch the first The Golden Bachelor Show featuring 71-year old Gerry Turner as the GQ star.
I say it’s about time they turned the spotlight on the boomer generation. We may be older, but we’re not dead! (see…it grows on you!)
I imagine this show will follow The Bachelor/Bachelorette pattern of exotic locations, extravagant dining, and over the top activities. However, I’m pretty sure the relationships among the chosen group of 65-and-over-women, and Mr Turner may be just a bit different from the other shows.
The truth is, reaching this golden-age-range changes the dating game. No doubt, many of us are still looking for love, but our needs, desires, and wants are now defined by different viewpoints.
We’re not looking to marry and start a family. We don’t need to establish professional identities and careers. And we definitely are not in the market for someone to redefine our lives, and how we live them.
Actually, we’re looking to go back to our youth. Not physically, but in the simple ways which, as kids, we made friends and built relationships. Talking, laughing, sharing foods defined as not good for us, listening to music, riding bikes, playing games, and having sleepovers.
All of which brings me to two quotes by the illustrious Katherine Hepburn that pretty much sum up this post.
“I often wonder whether men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.”
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only with what you are expecting to give — which is everything.”
To Gerry Turner and the bevy of 65-plus women who will worship at his Golden Bachelor altar this fall, I wish you all the best of luck in finding love.
To the rest of America’s Golden Agers, I wish you the desire…and the stamina…to keep looking for love. After all, we may be older, but….yeah….you know.