50-PLUS DATING: A KISS IS JUST A KISS?
Paula had been dating Richard for more than a month. He was a newly-retired IBM executive who, though divorced, still maintained a friendly relationship with his ex-wife. That was a big point in his favor. Divorced men can be bitter. He was kind, considerate, interesting, and fun. Paula had one question about him: Why didn’t he ever attempt to give her a goodnight kiss? What in the world was wrong with him?
Often after their dates, Paula would invite him in. They’d talk. They’d discuss plans for other dates. Then Richard would get up, put on his coat, and leave. At the door, Paula finally asked her question: ”Richard, why don’t you ever kiss me goodnight?” Richard beamed. He seized Paula’s shoulders and kissed her as enthusiastically as if this was the final scene in a $50 million dollar romantic movie. Paula beamed. “That was some kiss,” she said. “Why did you take so long?”
As it happens, it turned out to be Richard’s farewell kiss. Paula was a multi-tasking dater — on Match.com as well as eHarmony — and she met someone else who, among other things, was an even better kisser. If Paula had asked that question sooner, or Richard had been more aggressive, this story could have ended very differently. But he who hesitates gets tossed.