DATING GPS: EQUIPPED STANDARD FEATURE? No. Unfortunately not. Wouldn’t a built-in Dating Navigation System be amazing though?

I think that should be a Standard Safety Feature. Like, “Seat Belts that Hug” or “Airbags for the Heart”. It’s obvious, that some people are better at navigating “Dating Terrain”, than others. However, it is my hope, or I’m fairly certain, “all” our hope, that we “all” reach our desired destination.

How cool would it be though, to have a mini dating roadmap laid out in front of us, with basic directions and alternate routes available when we encounter “traffic” or “obstacles” in the road?! Of course, we would have to continue to drive safely and carefully, constantly keeping our eyes on the road, maintaining our distance, and equipment, as necessary. lol!

Since this is yet to be a standard or even an optional feature, I guess, we need to pay close attention and work on developing and/or constantly honing whatever innate skills we were blessed with.

There is a difference between intuition (our Dating Radar, which I believe we all have, but may need to develop) and direction (the Dating GPS per se’). I do not believe there is a “course we need to learn to chart”. The road in time, may begin to feel familiar, but everyone we encounter, is unique. I feel certain, there is no, step by step, set in stone, approach we can take. What I do believe, is that we can learn more about ourselves. Be open to that and be open to learning more about those we meet. I think we can learn more about reacting to a situation, as though we hit traffic or an obstacle along the way. Kind of like life’s little detours. Sometimes the trip may take a little longer…but we get there. Explore. Educate. Engage.

SIDE NOTE: I have this friend Coco. I care for her dearly, so I say this with love…but, she could use some type of built-in app that would prevent her from making “tipsy” phone calls or sending “tipsy” texts to exes or potential “dream” guys. OMG. The stories she tells me, the day following one of “those” nights out. Her stories always make me think about that movie: The Internship. Have you seen it? If you haven’t, I highly suggest, making some popcorn and grabbing your favorite beverage one night, and putting on this lighthearted movie. I think it is adorable. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson play interns at Google, during which, they and their teammates come up with this Dating App to prevent you from drunk texting. lol! Perfect. Right?! I actually just heard there is an App out there with this premise, but I was unable to locate it. I saw some write ups on it, but could not locate the App. Have you heard of one?

On a Date: Are You…YOU? Or Are You…WHO You Think THEY Want to be on a Date With?

I would love to hear feedback here. Some of the stories I hear from my female friends (and a select few of my male friends), surprise me. Everything from the pre-date worry, to the pre-date prep work (including financial expense), to their behavior on the date. These are lovely, bright, well-established, personable women. (The worries that my male friends have shared, are different and more in line with what they feel is the “pre-determined” role the male is to play. Also more concerned with the first time meeting and who might be sitting across the table from them. They have shared some horror stories. Let’s explore those another time. Do share your stories.) Women I know and care about, whose dating behavior I’m hearing is so different, than their behavior that I normally witness.

Good or bad. I am me. A “what you see is what you get”, kind of gal. Well, I guess with the online dating world, that would be more: “What you hear/read, is what you get”! Now, don’t get me wrong, I do think about my outfit and do my hair and try to put my “best face” forward. The one that makes me feel comfortable. But, honestly, I do that before I meet my Mom for lunch. So, ultimately, I AM being ME. That being said, I am here, over 60, single and sharing with you. Let’s navigate some more together!

Back to my “gal” pals. Some tell me they are nervous for days. You know, the kind of nervous, that makes you feel sick to your stomach. They plan their outfits and make their purchases (clothes, jewelry, etc.). They go have manicures and pedicures. Clean their cars. Really? Do most, routinely follow practices such as these?

I hear conversations from them that range from: “I am a good dater. I know I make people feel comfortable and I make sure to talk about what they are interested in.”…to: “I’m not sure if this is even going to work. I have walls up. I hate the thought of being rejected again…” Breaks my heart. Actually, both of these conversations, break my heart. They don’t sound at all like the wonderful woman that I am familiar with. Who are you on a date?

BUMBLE UPDATES.

I wasn’t joking when I was saying there are less options than I had expected on BUMBLE. Last week’s 3 are now down to 2…possibly 1. And no “new” connections made.

T1 (Bass Guy). The one that was going to take the two hour drive to spend the day with me. I know I was saying, I hated that I was feeling any doubt…but I was. My “gut” again. I really need to listen closely to it. I kept looking at his pictures, thinking he looked familiar, but couldn’t put my finger on it. It actually crossed my mind that he might be using someone else’s pictures on his profile, but we did discuss having worked with the same particular musician, he’d have to know I could check that out. I guess I just chalked it up to having crossed paths somewhere, in the music world. However, the other night at rehearsal (it must have been bugging me) I pulled his picture up for my guitarist to look at. He had the same feeling, that he had seen him, but no recall of where or when. I had decided I was going to hit T1 up about it in the morning, so we could figure it out. His profile and pictures were gone. No note. No anything. The worst part for me…I actually felt relieved. That’s 3 down to 2.

J4 (TV Guy), you know, the laid-back fellow. We have sent a few pleasant messages back and forth. Neither of us expressing much interest in getting to know more specifics about each other. That is speaking volumes to me. Though, I do thoroughly believe that J4 (TV Guy) is a “for real” guy! Not a scammer, just a guy casually checking things out. He did ask if I would consider chatting on the phone. I explained my whole “phone thing” and he was good about that. Then we quickly tossed the idea of meeting, “out there” and we were both open to it. Though not in any rush. Last message, we left it at, we’ll discuss it further this week.

My surprise of the week was: B1 (The Giver). Remember, last week I was saying that I thought it was time for us to wish each other good luck with our searches, as there didn’t seem to be enough interest on either one of our parts? And I had also mentioned “Wokefishing” and hoping that was not the case with B1 (The Giver), as his profile reflected such a caring and charitable individual.

Well, I did write that note, as I didn’t want to just disappear. If this guy is for real, he is a very nice man. The note went like this: “I hope this finds you doing well B1. Continue with your great work. I wish you much luck on your search on here. She’ll be a lucky lady!” Not too long later, I received the following message: “Hey there, you’re so sweet. I apologize for being out of touch. Family just left and headed back south. I would love to get to know you more. Hope you had an amazing day and that we can talk again. You are obviously a very special woman.” Wow. Right?

Now I’m really thinking. You know, the “overthinking” that I do. Armed with only his first name, state where he resides and his previous occupation (retired early), I went on a search. A vast internet search. And SON OF A GUN, if I didn’t find him. Well, at least the man pictured in B1’s profile. He is very well known. Yes, mostly (but not only) for his charitable work. What a great guy he sounds like. For a fleeting moment, I felt lucky to have caught the interest of such a kind human being. Then in the next moment…the thought flashed through my mind, that someone had “Catfished” this kind man’s information and I had tripped over him on BUMBLE. Damn.

I was now in possession of this man’s (the real man in the pics) full name, full home address, date of birth (month/day/year), previous place of employment, images, articles and videos. I found all this info on my own. I did not pay anything for any of it. It was out there for the finding. Now what was I to do with this?

The day after finding all the above information, B1 (The Giver) and I messaged each other off and on all day. He asked if I wanted to chat on the phone. I explained about my whole “phone thing”. He totally understood and suggested we start getting more acquainted through our messages. He sent me a long detailed message of his likes and dislikes (his words sounded so real and so much like the man his profile was portraying), so I in turn did the same. By the end of this particular long exchange, we both expressed an extreme interest in one another. I knew I had to find out, one way or the other…and now.

If this guy I am exchanging messages with, is in fact, the same guy, I found on the internet, I WANT to meet him. I want to get to know this kind human being more, even if we merely end up as friends. If this is NOT the guy, I am exchanging messages with, I want to find this out, because I want the REAL man to know what is happening. There was only one thing (well, maybe two) I could think of doing.

I needed to see his face. The next night, we were messaging, and B1 (The Giver) mentioned the feature on BUMBLE where you have the ability to call each other, yet your personal number is never revealed. I told him I had just heard about that and also heard that they had the feature to do a video chat in the same fashion. I then said, “What do you think about doing that?” He said: “Well…I think I’d have to shave first.” Shoot. “Shave.” He’s buying time. Darn it.

We continued with very nice messaging back and forth, though my heart I have to admit, sunk a bit. As I could feel the message exchanging was coming to a close for the night, I decided I’d take one more stab at it. “Are you sure you and your scruffy face and beautiful smile don’t want to do a quick video chat, to say goodnight? My hair is not done, I have no makeup on and am in my tee shirt and yoga pants, it only gets better from here, right?” (I know, totally in defiance of my own checklist. lol!) I no more got the words on the screen…when my PHONE RANG!!! Flashing a message if I wanted to ACCEPT or DECLINE a video chat from B1 (The Giver). HOLY SH*T!! ACCEPT, ACCEPT, ACCEPT!! I almost dropped my phone.

It was him! The real deal! Larger than life! And he was sporting the most gorgeous smile! He thought my “only gets better from here” was funny. We chatted for quite sometime. He has my number now and we have been in contact daily. Sometimes, numerous times daily. We haven’t set up the “meet” yet, but have discussed it several times…including COVID test results. lol! I will keep you posted. You just never know, do you?

SPECIAL NOTE: I was mistaken. Last week I referenced BUMBLE being free for just women. My apologies. Apparently BUMBLE is free for both parties. However, it is my understanding, that men frequently do take advantage and pay for the upgraded features of this app.

Well, it’s one dating day at a time. I’m staying grateful for each one of them. I hope yours are wonderful. Until next Thursday…