We are living in strange times.

[DonH]

So, well, hmmmmm... figured I'd make a rare appearance here on my own thread. Looks like the last time was June? Wow. Although my comments did get pulled back here last month. Anyhow. Keeping with my thread title... Clearly it only gets worse as we age. And I have a story to illustrate that.

So my music travels take me through a bunch of ages. Since I don't do hip hop or similar and since I gig with a pretty wide range of bands and styles, "fans tend to go anywhere from 30s to well into the senior area. Have a friend of my mom and dad's who lost her husband a month after my dad died. In fact my dad and her husband went to the same church and played soccer together in like the early 1950s. This lady is just into 80 and probably at the top of the food chain for her age. So she's got all of these guys chasing after her and after being married like 50+ years has no idea how to handle them. Her daughter has tried to clue her in but she's just too nice.

So I'm driving to my Friday night gig and get a call from a number I don't know and let it go to VM. Turns out it's some guy who wants her number and knows I know her so figured he can get it from me. I mean you can't make this stuff up. So I let her know and she claims she's told him no 10 times already. Maybe I can help? So I called him back and tried to tell him, look she's not ready to date anyone including you. I thought I got through to him when he said "so you are suggesting I just give up?" and I told him, that's exactly what I'm suggesting. Don't take it personally, she's not going to say yes to anyone right now. Just when I thought he got it, he say's okay, thanks for letting me know. Will you please be sure to tell Annie (not her real name) that I called and said hi?" FACEPALM

Clearly it doesn't get any better with age. I guess his wife died three or four years ago. This lady is attractive (for her age) and in shape, very outgoing and friendly. Like I said, I'm guessing she's a catch in that circle. He has no game, has gotten to the point of creepy now calling someone (me) he doesn't even really know to ask for her phone number and telling me how great he would be for her. I'm like dude I don't want to hear any of this.

So that's what we've all got to look forward to huh? Clearly it doesn't get better. Although even our 68 year old guitar player (think an uglier version of Joe Walsh) just found a girlfriend - actually she found him. But the loneliness I see with some of these guys is scary - at least to me. He's not really dated anyone since I started gigging with him like 12 years ago. Great blues, funk, soul, guitar player though. The things some of these guys will put up with just not to be alone. He's not there yet, he's in honeymoon phase but some of the other ones sound like stories that have been told here. Anyhow...

Was just sorta surreal having some 80-something guy call me to get a girls number - like used to happen to me when I was 15! And Annie could tell he has no game - pretended to just happen to run into her, etc. I so don't ever want to be that guy.

In other news - Cruisegate: we sail in two weeks and I did find a cruise date. Well, she's more a rental, I have to return her at the end of the week - probably in at least nearly the same condition as I received her in. Got her signed up very late in the game on a Wednesday. Then on Thursday the next day I was told we are already booked for #4 in January 2024 - so I've got to go through all of this again! OMG.

Been on way more dates lately than usual. And more GAL lately too. Nothing to get very excited about though. One has been divorced 26 years and I was her second date of 2022 in like early December. Then just got a call from a long-time female friend today and I happened to ask about a friend of her sisters, who I had been aware of before but she seemed pretty vanilla and just blended in. She had mentioned her years ago but I blew it off plus learned she was separated for like 5 years and still not divorced at that time, it just never went anywhere. But this past year I keep seeing her photos pop up with these friends and she is standing out more. Looks way happier, etc. Just putting out a much more attractive vibe even though she is cute but won't turn heads. Turns out she finally got divorced (they waited until the kids turned 18 even though they have not lived together for 8 years - very friendly divorce). Interesting how even in photos you can feel a different vibe from someone and how she increased her attractiveness without even probably knowing it. So I just off-handed mentioned that Lia (not her real name) is looking happier these days. Turns out I've already been talked about to her by her BFF and BFF's sister, who is my good friend, and they have just been waiting to introduce us. Hmmmmm. So without me even knowing any of this had taken place, I come out and ask about her. I'm sure my friend is over the moon about that serendipity. So we will see. I'm starting to soften on finding an actual GF so who knows. First problem, however, and you may all say this is an upside, I'm not so sure - but she happens to live like 5-10 minutes away from me! OMG. I don't think I've ever dated anyone that close to my house without her living in it!

Maybe I can start a new business being the over 80 matchmaker. Yikes!