First - the date. It had a few pleasant moments, but many disappointing ones. Mainly, she misrepresented herself in several key ways, from physical fitness, to occupational status, to religious affiliation. Just out-and-out mistruths that came up in convo over dinner. There was no initial attraction from me to her, yet I was more than willing to practice DBing, listening/convo skills, etc.., but got to thinking "Given that she's told so many lies already, how do I know any of her words are true?" By meals end, I was focused on enjoying my food and the setting. I resisted just breaking off the meal, I stayed focused on her, but obviously there was no 'love connection.'
Later that eve, XW called to talk about S6. She had been drinking wine, and her words were a little slurred, but she also seemed more upfront and less filtered. She asked if I was dating. I said yes, and she said "Thats good" in a quiet but thoughtful way. She went on to say that she must be "ugly" or "intimidating" because she's just not getting dates (she is more the pursuer in the dates she's arranged, according to mutual friends). I told her that she is "drop-dead gorgeous" and very intelligent, and accomplished, and that maybe she's right, that's intimidating to many men. I said, "XW, it will take a very special man to value all that you have to offer. With time, I trust you'll find him." Of course, I was thinking "its me, its me!" I noted that it struck me as ironic that I was investing in nice dates w/other women when we dated so little in the latter part of our M. I noted, "I'm sorry about that XW. You deserve to be treated like a princess, and I was not treating you as such back then. You truly deserve to be treated like a princess." We talked a bit about our M possessions, w/ XW offering me far more than she agreed to earlier.
I resisted an urge to help fix her problem of moving to her condo at months end, remembering the RO and her need to face her consequences alone. According to her finances and what she told me, she will be flat broke when she hands over the down payment on her condo. Unfortunately, that's when reality will truly set in, b/c she's been living about $2k-3K above her monthly income since the D settlement. I feel for her, yet know that she has to face this sitch and grow from it.
We said goodnight in a warm manner. Quite an interesting convo.
Went kayaking both Sat and Sunday, first on a lake and the intracoastal, then w/ a buddy in the Okefenokee Swamp. Didn't see any gators in the latter, but put in a good number of miles. Pulled into the grass to nap in the sun on my kayak briefly before heading back, stopping to wolf down a nice heavy southern meal of fried chicken and fixins.
I'll have S6 this afternoon. And K, you're so right. They grow up incredibly quickly, and I'm so blessed to have my time with him.
By meals end, I was focused on enjoying my food and the setting. I resisted just breaking off the meal, I stayed focused on her, but obviously there was no 'love connection.' 
I noted that it struck me as ironic that I was investing in nice dates w/other women when we dated so little in the latter part of our M. I noted, "I'm sorry about that XW. You deserve to be treated like a princess, and I was not treating you as such back then. You truly deserve to be treated like a princess." We talked a bit about our M possessions, w/ XW offering me far more than she agreed to earlier. 
