The Wonder of It All

At the risk of jinxing things, I believe I can safely say I have a friend. Maybe I'll just whisper it here, rather than shouting it from my rooftop.

For the six months prior to leaving Tucson almost two years ago, I think I might have had five dates. With five different men—if you get the point of that. Those were not relationships; there was no longevity, no connection. To be fair, I was completely clear with everyone I knew that I would be moving to Youngstown the moment I found a job. And what man wants to try to get to know a woman whose feet are standing on distant ground?

I've been honored to be part of my younger son's nuclear—rather than extended—family ever since moving up here. I have said a thousand times that I am a lucky woman to be so completely accepted my both my son and daughter-in-law, and a lucky grandma to be able to have such a close and connected relationship with my beautiful grandchildren.

But I've been lonely. There's only so much one can (or should!) confide in her adult children. I've occasionally borrowed a few friends from my kids, but I didn't really know anyone 1) whom I considered solely my friend and, 2) who was as single and alone as I and could run to a movie or out for a drink whenver we felt like it. I lived for my children—not that there's anything wrong with that.

But suddenly, with the birth of 2010, with the sense of fireworks exploding in the sky, I have met a truly decent, nice, and honorable man, a man whose sense of humor makes me smile and laugh, a man who thinks I'm—dare I use a word from a much younger generation—hot. Do you know—do you have the teeniest tiniest idea—how truly rare those characteristics are in single men over 50? No? Let me tell you: they're freaking rare. Rare!

So now I consider myself not only honored to be included in my younger son's family, I am honored to be included in the world of a really nice man.

Now, instead of trying to figure out how to spend my time when Ty and Jaci and the babes are busy, I'm trying to figure out how to balance the facets of my life.

Facets. I have facets! Can you hear the joy in my fingertips as I write that?

I am filled with joy. This 2010 is going to be a very good year!