A Highfalutin Widower's Someone

Hello Stranger... potential Friend,

Have a look at one of my profile photos taken while hiking... in my favorite granite mountain playground (Old Rag Mountain in Virginia). I live a simple life... laid back... close to nature... dedicated to learning on the go... in the college of living.

Please respond by writing simply about yourself... things you might be willing to share with a perfect stranger. You may agree... I am stranger than most. We both might question any reference to my being in any way perfect at this time... even in a strange sense.

Please allow me the freedom... with a simple man's prose... painting a verbal picture of just who I am... my thinking... a retired man's vacation of sorts... with a map of his mind... inclined toward friendship... going where the Spirit may lead... blending where our spirits may follow.

Good views from a mountain vantage are easy in coming. I love the challenge of my favorite places... vision questing to my hearts content... stories to share with cheerful passing strangers. Aches and strains like a snowstorm... to slow us creatures down in self-awareness... with the breezes that clear the mind... a long drive home to assimilate adventurous delights... delights of a treadmill exquisite.

What a wonderful evening... with even my virtual helper... the spell/grammar check dude... friendly... also in perfect acceptance of our approved inside-out rambling style prose... believing again in soul mate conception... possibility fruition renewed... new day... adventure unfolding... awakening... coming to my senses... world expanding.

Learning Disabled... we all suffer... as time fills knowledge bases more full... wisdom pools more deep... expanding worlds of time and space... all embraced by reality NOW.

I joined... Senior Singles Groups... questioning... what experience out there... common... normal... within the whole world... for abandoned souls... left behind... to grow alone... found placed with roots bonded... bound... holding... while searching for that illusive NOW.

Joined to see what is there... to share what is here... to wonder what may come... to touch humanity in like-minded throes... around the world... with only culturally simple specs... blinders wearing... in sense to tie understanding to framed reference... experience shared.

Joined to be flowing outward in words... to learn... to practice... expressive writing... inside out... shared longings... shared delights.

The path of least resistance is great on a mountain hill... rocks and briers... steep climbs dangerous... makes you look ahead and spot trouble... well prepared... for what ever looms.

Life... unawares... leaves many in the dust... crest fallen... ill... wounded... still with lessons unlearned... feeling resentful and confused... wondering how... how did I get here? What happened... why did I not see... who cared?

Having learned from the path of least resistance... avoid the pit falls... avoid the well traveled path... see us travelers carrying heavy weight... unnecessary cargo... bad baggage... spirit laden with guilt... with regrets... or sullen with poor health... not easy with contentment... much dis-eased... full of unknowing wrong choices... wrong path of easy choices... pleasing scenic paths... unwary... pricey ways.

Spiritual health revolves simply around happiness... happiness based on love... often hidden by evil clouds... seeking love, long lost in wrong places... devilish distortions.

In the essence of our being human, Love within our spirit... made in that image... made in that likeness... the Kingdom of God. God is Love... seek Him within... meditate Him well... listen to your heart... discern your Loves' ways.

Natural physical health... often illusive... is simple enough... from scratch... natural self-healing ways... simplify a few basic facts... often ignored by those who should know... finding resilient paths to good health... you may ask about them, if you wish.

You know I am 76 years of age... with no medicated support... continuing to climb my favorite mountain often (time and weather permitting) as my treadmill exquisite.

Never the less... whenever one starts... no matter the state of the climb... the state of our mind - the path toward spiritual and physical growth... includes psychological, mental and social benefits along the way.

I am happy to friend you by a continued correspondence... if you may desire... with only your permission.

Be well dear friend. Be my guest as we look forward to the rest of our story... to develop a friendship... one that may well become mutually addictive.

God bless you and those you love... keeping all safe, healthy and strong!

Sincerely,
goldenprosperity

1. What are you most passionate about?
Nature, Hiking, manicured grounds, writing, personal development, health, compassion, children, holistic personal planning, family, friendship, world trends, general human spiritual development.

2. What are the THREE things for which you are MOST thankful?
1/ For the most felt and appreciated experiences recalled from loving relationships. (To dream)
2/ For my Faith which has given me stability and joy in gratefulness. (To hope)
3/ For my health which promises continued human growth and development. (To love)

3. Other than your parents, who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
A good friend, Louis J. Carter, who taught this shy one, to Lector and Cantor when lay participation and singing experience seemed brand new in most Catholic Churches. He set the stage and enabled me to sing the Exultet, a 10-minute solo plainchant at Easter Vigils. Shy or not, I became able to give talks successfully in my Diocese, during Catholic Mass homily-time on (of all things) Tithing. My friend accepted my weakness, introduced me to a spirit of outpouring love. He mission-ed me to bear some little fruit. Thanks, my friend, for the challenge. The reward is yours.

4. The four things your friends say about you are:
Caring
Perceptive
Optimistic
Spiritual

5. What are three of your BEST life-skills?
Finding and taking on challenging activities
Finding pleasure and contentment in simple things
Communicating my innermost thoughts and feelings

6. What is the most important quality that you are looking for in another person?
As I know myself very well, I believe this person must have a vocational calling to be a Saint. I cannot say that I know what this quality looks like, but I am willing to be found in surprise, wonder and awe. The ball is in your court. Hit Me! I am looking for a slow moving dance of discovery, respect, appreciation, friendship, affection, melded unity in lifestyle if possible... a lifetime friendship if not.

7. Other than your appearance, what is the first thing that people notice about you?
Forget my appearance (My profile picture may be old too). You will see that I am outgoing and happy to meet new people and relate well to strangers. I am this way... because I have the lifetime practice of being a recovering introverted shy guy.

8. What is the ONE thing that people DO NOT notice about you right away that you WISH they WOULD?
Things that people do not notice about me right away include the fact that I may really be human, lonely, and vulnerable. It is my wish and hope that they may see my need for acceptance, appreciation and respect.

9. How do you typically spend your leisure time?
Natural development of my homestead appearance (Grounds Keeper/Janitor), Mountain climbing, hiking and being in nature (Vision Quest-er), meditation and writing (Seeker/Jester), relating to neighbors, friends and family members (Itinerant Troublemaker). Being retired, you can well imagine this schedule of leisure time activity is well planned but very relaxed and laid back. Sometimes I think retired people need vacations too.

10. What are five things that you "can't live without?"
A good Computer w/ the speed of light
A Faith Community that inspires by example
Relationships that assure growth and development
Meditation for spiritual awareness
Flexibility and spontaneity in my now time

11. Describe the last book that you read and enjoyed. What was it about? What did you like most about it?
"EASY READING WRITING" by Peter E. Abresch This IS easy reading about writing easy reading (You might want to read that again). The author does a 'funominally' humorous and entertaining job in teaching a very serious subject. He successfully enables the reader to understand the tricks and ploys to keep another reader personally involved in a Fiction Story or a not-so-put-down-able-type book. http://www.easyreadingwriting.com/

12. Describe one thing about yourself that only your best friends know.
A best friend knows that I can laugh about twisted fate and dysfunctional situations. These things come up in our growing pains, to challenge us with creative efforts at renewal. We find a way to let go, let God... We find forgiveness and compassion to sand the rough edges... My friend laughs with me, and then we can feel free to cry.

What I'd like to do on a first date...
A day trip to climb a mountain would be nice... I would settle for a few hours of chat over an extended lunch somewhere publicly convenient to the both of us.

My past relationships have taught me...
Unspoken expectations nearly always push the limits of reality in one way or another...

To me, being a Catholic means...
To me being a Catholic means continual growth on a full level of being human... witnessing to the Christ, open to His word from wherever it may come... having enthusiasm in sharing the good news to any who are open to it.

One thing I would like to mention...
You really should know, I'm an old guy (not wealthy in a material sense), warmly spirited, slightly eccentric but not egotistic, fixed by income, living in a happily arranged extended family lifestyle with two adult sons and grandchildren in my homeplace (two wooded acres attached to a reverse mortgage). A woman's very special touch in this setting is a no-brain-er Godsend. Pray for an exciting vocation and a happy death! Do I have any takers? I do not mean... just a housekeeper, Gerda! That is minimum wage stuff... I mean until in happy death do we part. Never the less in any case, let us forever be friends.

I have come to realize that many seniors are contented with their lives. They desire to remain close to their children... grand children... or elderly parents... friends and accustomed surroundings or even (like myself) their reverse mortgage.

Never the less, they may still seek to know another... who might understand the shared pains of loneliness... sharing the memories of troubled times... even as they share the joys of seeking spiritual growth and peace. They may seek a lifetime... or a part time sustaining and loyal friendship... on a deeper level with specific permission.

My question is... can we do this for one another... while blooming where planted? I believe such intimate trust and caring is... as possible... as it is rare and unique... so, let us keep in touch... watchful of a spirit of growth within our friendship.

You are welcome!