These meetings came primarily from online sites including Bumble, Hinge and Match. For quite some time, I clung to the hope of salvaging my year marriage and sustaining a lifelong partnership. With two young adult sons setting out on their own journeys, the idea of our family breaking apart was heart-wrenching. Divorce felt like stepping into a storm that engulfed me, leaving me battered and bruised. Fortunately, storms do eventually pass and, as the downpours stopped and the winds calmed, standing on my own presented me with an opportunity for healing and self-discovery thanks to the help of a great therapist.
Eventually, I regained my desire to go on a quest for love β albeit with some trepidations. Did that mean I needed to start regularly shaving my legs? And was I going to eventually have to get naked in front of someone new? My body looked completely different now than when I met my husband at And so with newfound strength and cautious optimism, I ventured into the world of dating apps β always sharing my location with my sister, just in case I needed a swift exit. Swiping through profiles became a daily ritual along with my morning coffee.
The process was both enlightening and exasperating. Conversations would spark and fizzle out, and sometimes those I thought could be prospects would vanish into the digital abyss. This vanishing act happened with one man who seemed promising after two dates.
The second date included a hike and a sweet picnic lunch that he had packed! I texted him to thank him for the delightful afternoon. Was it my frizzy, wild hair on that humid August day? I did find there were many great, honest men out there, but certainly a few who took creative license in their profiles. Pro tip: If a guy says he's 5'11", chances are he's closer to 5'8". In my profile, I indicated I was only interested in non-smokers.
Then came my date with one man I met for dinner, who reeked of cigarette smoke when he hugged me hello. To top it off, as soon as we sat down at the table, he casually took a breath mint out of his mouth and plopped it next to his water glass. Was he planning to put it back in his mouth after dinner?
