I met a man on a OLD site about 4 months ago. He is 9 years older than me, and lives 5.5 hours away.
Our first meet up was in a big city half way between us. Next meeting was about a month later and he invited me to his area to attend a banquet he had organized for his business. He put me up in a hotel. COMPLETE gentleman and everything he says matches what he does.
Third meeting I drove to big city. And 4th of July he is coming here and staying in a hotel for several nights. He is very respectful of the fact I have a DD16 with me. He also apologizes he cannot get over here more often, and I believe him because I know in his business this time of year is his busiest.
His wife of 30 years passed over a year ago. He appears to be a honorable man with a good job, and lifelong friends.
We either text or talk on the phone every day.
Nothing physical yet, not even holding hands. Oh, we do hug..
I am not used to this. A regular nice man after 20 years of hell (and ongoing trauma) from NPD asshat. High drama and all that goes with that. My picker was so broken then.
I am in my early 50's. I am also shy and an introvert. So our conversations are almost always chit-chat style.
How do people my age and temparament (both shy) move beyond this chit-chat stage? There is no history, no family connections between us...arghhh.
Someone I once loved gave me/ a box full of darkness/ It took me years to understand/ That this, too, was a gift. - Mary Oliver
Just for the record darling, not all positive changes feel positive in the beginning -S C Lourie
