Another Omaha first date was with a tall, thin but attractive man who was a few years older and reminded me of James Taylor. Kevin took me to the standard dinner and a movie and then wanted to show me his house. It was a summer night, and after the obligatory tour, we sat on… Continue reading Desperado
Teddy Bear With Back Hair
When I lived in Omaha for eight years in my twenties, I dated almost all the eligible men I met in my age range, at least once — shorter guys, smokers, non-dancers, younger guys, poorer guys (I was a school teacher!) and guys with facial hair. But I NEVER dated a guy with back hair… Continue reading Teddy Bear With Back Hair
Total Eclipse of the Date
The second-to-last solar eclipse over the continental U.S. was on Monday, February 26, 1979. Claudette worked in the x-ray department at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her co-workers took some x-ray film and went outside to look at the sun through the film. They were not in the path of totality (had… Continue reading Total Eclipse of the Date
Border Collies 2, Geese 0
She named you Tru. You are a member of the smartest dog breed on the planet, one that performs in sheepherding trials, one that needs to work every day because you are so intelligent. You are happy to get into a golf cart and ride around the Crow Canyon County Club golf course, looking for… Continue reading Border Collies 2, Geese 0
Bricks, Ricks, and Cardboard
The college mixer was hosted by the men in Lorch House in Friley Hall, in the heart of the Iowa State campus. My house, Tappan, the top two floors of Barton Hall, a girls’ dorm, was invited. Yes, I am old. Yes, dorm floors are co-ed now. This was in the days of the dinosaurs.… Continue reading Bricks, Ricks, and Cardboard
Best Summer Camp Ever
My two daughters were Girl Scouts and went to summer day camp at Twin Canyons in Lafayette, two towns over. In order to get them a slot, I volunteered to work the entire week. I did it for eleven years and enjoyed getting to meet every camper there (about 200 each year). I chose the… Continue reading Best Summer Camp Ever
Julie Takes a Ride
Julie and her friend, Denise, went to the Rusty Pelican on Friday night. It was their go-to hang-out. But lately it had been heavy on girls’ night-out groups and light on eligible men. Would it be the same old, same old kind of night, or would Julie finally meet a datable man? She’d fluffed and… Continue reading Julie Takes a Ride
It Never Goes Away
Every year on December 1st, I get a notification from Facebook that it’s a certain friend’s birthday. The trouble is that the friend has been gone for over four years. I read a poem at his memorial service. He was a ski club guy, not a guy I knew real well. Is there no one… Continue reading It Never Goes Away
Keep on Keepin’ On
I was alone in a bar on a Friday night. This was not the plan. My ski club was supposed to have a TGIF in my town, a rarity. I wouldn’t have to fight northbound traffic on 680. Woohoo! Four hours off from being a caregiver. It had been a long week with the trip… Continue reading Keep on Keepin’ On
Why Not to Discuss Politics and Religion
Steve was a grad student at UCLA while he worked for Chrysler. His roommates fixed him up on a date with a Persian beauty named Mahvash. It was love at first sight. Mahvash had long dark hair and wore a gorgeous gown that really turned him on. They went to dinner and afterward, Steve invited… Continue reading Why Not to Discuss Politics and Religion
FIRST DATE, WORST DATE EVER! 