For an older guy in the singles scene it's feast and famine. As guys get older the female to male ratio is terrific but the traditional places to meet women are scarcer. Not that there aren't places to meet women - mainly clubs and meat markets but there aren't a lot of older women there.
But, remain hopeful, keep a stiff upper lip and a stiff you-know-what because there are venues. Churches and singles dances are my preferred spots although church women can sometimes be a bit of a drag. I say this having been married once to the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister who could melt an iceberg. Unfortunately that was only for an hour or two a week, the rest of the time she was - you guessed it - the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister - but I digress.
My venue of choice is the singles dance and every city of any size has one - I met the preacher's daughter at one in an earlier time and place. So, being in a new town and knowing no one, I picked up one of the freeby weeklies and discovered a couple in my new hometown.
One was at the Knights of Columbus Hall - a favorite venue in many cities. Say this for the Catholics, they don't discourage a good time, as long as you go to confession regularly. Every Friday night, 8 to 11 pm - typical agenda, modest entry fee, free soft drinks, BYOB. Sometimes a combo, sometimes a dee-jay, sometimes a wanna-be with a karaoke machine. I started attending. Nice ratio of women to men - most of them 50 plus, some of the women looking slightly used but spruced-up and on the prowl. God bless aggressive women.
I met a lot of women there, in all shapes, sizes and ages and one in particular stood out. Her name was Louise. She was on the chunky side - not usually my choice - but she was very friendly and seemed to like me - a lot. She was also a terrific dancer which compensated somewhat. She was a widow, blonde hair, about 5' 4" tall and probably weighed about 150 pounds. I'm not a terrific poundage-guesser and a gentleman never asks a woman how old she is or how much she weighs. Anyhow I asked her if she was interested in meeting sometime, somewhere, just the two of us and she readily agreed.
At the appointed hour, 5 pm, I showed up at the appointed place, a cozy neighborhood restaurant/bar and we met. We had a few drinks and a few laughs and I invited her to dinner. The drinking and the laughter continued during the meal and after dinner and dessert I looked at my watch and said, "It's almost 7:30, I should probably head for home."
"How about a short walk to work off some of this wonderful food."
"Okay", I replied. "What did you have in mind?"
"There's a nice little park not far from my house. It's one of my favorite places."
"Sounds good to me," I replied. "Lead the way."
We got in our cars and I followed her to her house in a pleasant suburban neighborhood. She parked in her driveway and I pulled in behind her. We got out and strolled a couple of blocks to a little park with benches, picnic tables, some playground equipment, the usual stuff. We walked and talked and as we walked I held her hand, giving it a squeeze at appropriate points in the conversation. She always squeezed back. Good sign. After awhile she said, "Let's go swinging."
I grinned and responded, "I thought that was for bored married couples", knowing full well what she had in mind.
We walked to the swings and swung for a bit and then I hopped off and sat on a picnic bench and watched her. She slowed down and stopped but remained sitting on the swing, facing me. Through the combination of sitting and swinging her skirt had climbed up to about mid-thigh and caught my attention. I could almost see the promised land. After more talk and longing looks I said, "Well, I guess I should be going."
"Okay", she said with a somewhat disappointed look on her face.
We walked back to her house and as we neared her place she said, "Would you like to come inside for a little while?"
"Why not."
Her house was not fancy but very clean and orderly, a place for everything and everything in it's place, not overly froofrawed but feminine. Women do appreciate their things. I don't know if she had tidied up for my benefit but it confirmed my initial impression that she was not a slob and that was good.
"Sit down," she said, motioning toward a sofa, and I did.
"I'll make some coffee."
"Don't go to any trouble."
"No trouble at all."
"I'd prefer de-caf, if you have it."
"Cream and sugar?"
"Right on," I said.
"Give me a minute."
I sat down, looked around and felt very comfortable. The surroundings, like her, were warm and inviting. I noticed a picture of a sailor on the wall - probably her husband, probably dead for several years and probably a nice guy, based on our conversations. I wondered what he would think about me, in his house, thinking lustful thoughts about his bride.
She came back from the kitchen with two cups of coffee, two spoons, a sugar bowl and a small carafe of cream.
"Real cream," I asked.
"Nothing but the best for special occasions."
"Is this a special occasion?"
She looked at me, hesitated and than said, "For me it is."
"For me too."
We drank our coffee and talked some more and felt the electricity of mutual attraction ih the air. Putting my coffee down on the coffee table - what an apt description - I settled back on her sofa, reached out a hand and gently touched her on her back. She put down her coffee and moved closer to me, bringing her face closer to mine. I moved slowly to kiss her - our first kiss - tentative at first but continuing. I moved my tongue into her mouth and she responded positively, moving her tongue against mine and then into my mouth.
I stopped kissing her and said, "Holy mackerel."
She laughed and resumed kissing. I began to stroke her back with my right hand, touching her neck, nuzzling her throat and ears. I began to smell that delightful and unique smell of a woman in want. Slowly and cautiously I moved my left hand from her shoulder to her right breast and gently cupped it. She didn't flinch or turn away but kissed me even more fervently. Pulling my hand partially away my fingers found her nipple and began to caress it gently. I responded appropriately. I stopped momentarily and said, "Do you want me to stop?"
"No," she said, pulling my hand closer to her breast. "I don't ever want you to stop."
"Can I see them?"
She hesitated for a moment, running the options through her mind and than said, "If you want to."
"I most definitely want to."
I unbuttoned her blouse slowly and she pulled it off, dropping it on the floor. I cupped both hands on her breasts and kissed her again, rubbing her now-hard nipples and gladdening at her response. Then she reached behind her back and unhooked her bra and, looking at me somewhat uncertainly, pulled it away. Her breasts were beautiful with little freckles on her pale skin, large aureola and prominent nipples. I started to lower my head to kiss them and she stopped me, reaching to unbutton my shirt. I smiled and pulled away while she worked the buttons and dropped my shirt to the floor.
"I guess that makes us even," I said.