I’ve continued to swipe right; I now have about 60 pen pals. Well…kinda. One date (I was heading there the last time I wrote). Nice date, no electricity. Haven’t heard from him, which is a relief. Had a great phone call with someone. Texted him a Father’s Day greeting…nada. Fine. Two others have my number and haven’t used it. Also fine.

I’ve weeded out several of the matches after brief exchanges that have fizzled before they got started…no loss. There’s only so much I have to say, or want to hear, about the beach.

One called and seemed very nice, but definitely not for me. I hope I don’t hear from him again. Another one made it clear that he was about hooking up. I have no issue with that as a possibility. However, when he suggested we meet for a drink near me, see if we’re attracted to each other and then head to my place…well…it was just too…too scripted.

So let’s talk about the handful that remain.

I’ve developed an on-going rapport with one man. We’ve taken it off-app. But I fucked up. My kids are adults. Many men in my preferred age range have kids a bit younger than mine, which is ok. This time I engaged with the father of a nine-year-old. Not ok. In truth, I just assumed this would organically run its course as most matches do. It hasn’t. We’ve taken the conversation off-app to personal texting and even a phone call. It was the call that did me in. Talk of picking up from after-school activities and meetings with teachers sent a wave of post traumatic shock through my body. I did all that with gusto when it was my time, but that time has passed and I’m not prepared to go there again. I am going to call him and be honest. Mostly. Because I wasn’t really feeling it anyway.

I’ve been asking matches if they have any interesting summer plans. One answered, “Yes. You?” I responded the only way that made sense, “That was a lame-ass answer. Please try again.” I also offered up some info about my plans. I didn’t expect to hear back from him. I did. This one is still new, so we’ll see how far it goes.

Some of the matches do have really interesting summer plans that have led to on-going interaction. Some have interesting summer plans, but do not, otherwise, seem interesting. Or I don’t see compatibility for other reasons. For example, there’s a guy who’s biking up the coast. Cool plan. Also learned that normally he runs every morning, bikes every afternoon…overzealous.

There’s one that’s caught my attention on a couple of levels. I texted him to say so this morning. Will that be the end of that? Good possibility. When I know, you’ll know.