It was 2018, and I was recently divorced. My life, and the dating world, had changed drastically from when I first met my ex-husband in the supermarket in 1985. Now everyone was looking for love online, and I had no idea where to start.
I had been around the block of love and loss, and I had just retired after more than 30 years in marketing. I was living alone in my Boston apartment and taking full advantage of everything going on in the city. I went to the theater and museums and attended lectures. I was independent and thriving in so many ways, and yet, faced with the prospect of coffee with a stranger, I felt like a schoolgirl all over again. I hadn’t dated in so long I wondered if I’d be attractive to anyone.
I understood that finding dates now mostly happened online and that I needed to learn the art of swiping. I was terrified and curious. What if no one wanted to go out with me? Who would be out there looking for a 62-year-old woman?
I learned about Bumble, a popular dating app that gave women an advantage with the first swipe: If I wasn’t interested in the man, he couldn’t contact me. This seemed ideal, so I picked up my phone and downloaded the app.
I was immediately asked to create a profile. I had no idea what to say about myself, so I asked my friend Deb to write it.
I love everything that Boston has to offer. You might find me sailing on the Charles (just learning), playing golf (always learning), or enjoying walks along the harbor. Could we share some discoveries or laughs? Hope so.
Deb threw in golf, even though I could take it or leave it.
“Men like golf,” she advised.
Man with no shirt on a boat holding up large fish. No thanks! Swipe left
Man with no shirt on the beach, arm around babe in bikini. Left
Man with no shirt on deck at a barbecue. Left
Then I found the first man with potential. I nicknamed him “Zadie,” which means “grandpa” in Yiddish. My friends were so excited to see me go out for the first time that they overlooked his…
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