Why I Wrote This Book

Hi Friends,

        First, let me tell you that my book, Love & Successful Aging When You're 70+ and Single, is now on Amazon.com with the "search inside the book" feature.  This makes it easier to find out more about the contents.  Or, you can read the following excerpt from the Think You're Too Old For Love? article that was featured in Patch.com to get a handle on the flavor of the book.  Here's a condensation of the article, plus two questions at the end that should pique your interest.

      Who would have thought that in the 75th year of my up-and-down life I would meet a man who could finish my sentences?  And I his?  Who likes holding hands in the movies and hates eggplant as much as I do?  It's amazing to both of us!  The wonder of it all!  So let's hear it for random dining at one of the three restaurants in the retirement community in which we both live.

       I was surprised to find myself in this relationship after two marriages, the second of which lasted 30 years and from which I was widowed before moving to the retirement community.  But I found myself in a joyful place with finding a new companion with whom I would share my life.  (Note the word companion ... I had had enough husbands!)  That's when I began reaching out to other couples to see how they came together for love, joy and pleasure while leading independent, separate lives.

        And so I designed a survey that would give me the kind of information I was looking for and might prove useful to other older adults who were widowed, divorced or never married, but were hopeful about meeting someone with whom they could walk love's path.  I didn't ask any questions about sex or money -- I wouldn't respond to any survey that did -- but chose to focus on how and where they met, what attracted you to the other person, and most tellingly (I thought) were the last two questions:
         
       10.  "Have you considered marriage? (check all that apply)

• Yes, but not financially practical
• Yes, but creates too many unnecessary problems
• Never discussed it
• Happy with things the way they are

and
        11.  "What do your children think of your relationship? (please check one only)

• No children
• Approve of relationship
• Not thrilled with relationship but accepting of it
• Disapprove

      I would love to hear from readers which answers you think were checked most frequently by survey respondents.  

      Let's get a conversation going!!


Best regards,

Regina