Seems like Charlie and me have been going to more wakes and funerals then we used to. Or we’re hearing about a gal we know just got cancer or a guy who had a heart attack. Kind of shakes you up.
So much so, I found myself thinking the other day, if I’m the first one to kick the bucket, I hope Charlie gets out there and finds a lady friend to do stuff with. You know, after the appropriate mourning period. I told him I don’t want much. Just my photo with a couple of votive candles burning 24/7!
At our age, the writing’s on the wall. There’s a 50/50 chance, right? You’re going to be the last one standing or you’re not.
Watching my dad go through it, I know you never really stop missing your mate. But, if you take your time, feel the feelings, be kind to yourself, eventually, you’ll realize that you’re starting to move forward. It’s not like nothing happened, but suddenly you’ll notice getting out of bed in the morning is a little easier.
My Dad, what a character! He tried that computer dating thing. This was a few years after my mom passed. He joined this Catholic dating site. A friend who’s good with computers helped him put up his profile, but he didn’t include a picture. When my niece Caitlin caught wind of it, she got Dad’s password and everything and added a nice photo of him taken at Easter dinner that year. I’ll be darned. He got so many responses, it crashed his computer! Well, he’s a good looking guy: nice head of hair and he still drives at night!
I remember asking, “How’s the computer datin’ going, Dad?
“I’ve been out on a few.”
“You have? Where’d you go?”
“McDonald’s. We met for breakfast.”
“Ho, ho! Last of the big spenders!”
“Hey, I was goin’ anyway. I figured, why not have some company?”
“How’d it go?”
“Alright, I guess, but it’s hard to keep ‘em straight.”
“The women?”
“Yeah.”
“Geez, how many dates you been on?”
“Three, maybe. See, they’re all Catholic, ‘bout my age or a little younger, so they were all named Mary. It’s confusin’.”
“I can see that it.”
“I was getting so many emails, I quit the computer dating. Too much like work.”
“Were any of the gals cute?”
“Nope. Listen, Ida, women my age fall into two categories: “decent lookin’” or “better be a good cook.” All three belonged in that second group.
That’s if for now. Catch you on the flip side!
IDA’S PODCAST: Computer Dating
Ida has a new show!
September 8 & 9: Makin’ Whoopie!, ACT ONE Beyond Festival, http://actonenh.org/ Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2:00pm & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
September 15 & 16: Makin’ Whoopie!, ACT ONE Beyond Festival, http://actonenh.org/ Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 2:00pm, Portsmouth, NH
September 29 & 30: Makin’ Whoopie!, The Footlights Theatre, http://www.thefootlightsinfalmouth.com/ Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Falmouth, ME
Also coming up in September
September 18: Book Reading, Franco-Amercian Centre, http://umaine.edu/francoamerican/University of Maine, 6:00pm, Orono, ME
September 19: Book Reading, Old Town Library, http://old-town.lib.me.us/ Tuesday Forum Luncheon: 11am-1pm, FREE catered light lunch is served from 11am-12pm with presentation from 12-1pm, call to reserve, Old Town, ME
September 19: Book Reading, Dirigo Pines Retirement Community, http://www.dirigopines.com/ 7:15pm, Orono, ME
With Caitlin’s help, I’ve finally learned to update the schedule on my website. Check it out here: http://www.idaswebsite.com/schedule/