INTERNET DATING

Internet dating, does it work? Will it work for me? Having been married twice I wondered if it was the best way of finding love for the third time. I didn’t want to go through the normal ( what is normal?) route; bars, clubs, parties, blind dates( not that I’ve tried them) and personal introduction from friends. So I opted for the internet dating sites. Less involvement, low commitment and high success rate, well that’s what I was told. At least I could say that I’ve tried. At sixty two, am I past my best? Certainly not! Still got my own teeth, hair and more importantly marbles. I’m active and good looking. I don’t mind animals(pets) although I would prefer not having them. Both my daughters Marc and Abi are grown up, so I am free with no commitments. That’s what I put on my profile and waited, and waited. Alert!! some one had requested to converse, then another and then another. I checked their profile and their pictures. Hmm, not sure what I’m supposed to do now. Do I email?, Text or can I ring them. So I ticked their profile as liking them and requested a text conversation; another alert came and another and I got confused with all the activity that was happening that I completely forgot to text back my first alert- Mary. By the time I had remembered she must have lost patience and gone. None materialised into nothing more than texting so I stopped looking. Two weeks later having nearly given up I logged in to profile page; Surprise! Surprise!! over twenty interested possibilities. It was hard going through them, a couple of hours later, only three hopefuls remained. One in particular, fitted the criteria and I texted her my number, hoping she’d call; and she did. Five days of lengthy telephone calls later, we arranged to meet. I’m not going to say what Fraser Crane often say:” This is the one”. We met and had lunch together. It was okay, she was okay. It was seeing her off on the train that really made up my mind for me; That she wasn’t the one. No hug no kiss did it for me. Internet dating? Does it work? Is it for me? Still not sure, but I’m not giving up on love yet. Next day, back online, checking out who’s checking me out. None! Maybe I shouldn’t bother, it’s doesn’t seem to be working for me, time to give up? As it’s free I’ll keep looking, tomorrow might be the day that changes everything. Then out of the blue, one lady that I had been texting previously texted me her mobile number. “Ring me”. So I rang, we talked and we talked. It’s much easier to gauge some ones interest on the phone than by texting, and Jackie was all that I’d expected, I could tell in her voice she was interested in meeting me. We met face to face on a date not long after. We got on like a house on fire. We have been together now, just over five years and we are planning on getting married. Internet dating? Does it work? For some it does, but for many maybe not. Everyone’s experience is different. That’s why I couldn’t definitely, absolutely say no it doesn’t work. Suck it and see, but adhere not only to the dating sites T&C’s but set your personal and moral guide lines before you throw yourself into a relationship. Finding love isn’t to be rushed, there still needs to be everything in-between in getting there. The chase, the romance, the excitement and the emotional connection. So my advise, take your time, don’t rush into it, savour the moments you spend, speaking on the telephone and texting one another before meeting face to face on a date. Let your mind work thinks out but let your heart make the decision on the love aspect of the relationship. Follow your heart, speak to your closest friends, and more importantly ask God what He thinks. For He will give you great advice that will benefit you and your future. Was it for me? Yes it was. The proof is in the pudding, of where I am now in that process. I’m nearly 63 years old as I've already said and I didn’t think I would be able to use an internet dating site, as I’m old school; because meeting the opposite sex by way of the internet was very alien to me. But having done it, I would recommend it (with caution) as a way of finding love: The love of your life. Hopefully it’s another way to add to the list of finding love again, if you haven’t already.