SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

In my continuing quest to not be a hermit I went bowling about a month ago with some friends of mine. Just hanging with peeps, getting out of the house.

And I met this guy. He's smart, funny as hell, cute, and y'all, he has his shit together. He's been a BS -his wife of 25 years had an LTA the last 11 they were married. He's been divorced about two years. He's five years older than me, has three grown kids and seven grandbabies.

He politely asked for my number, and I politely gave it. We've been out about six times now, and each time I like him more and more. Not a single red flag, hell not even a yellow one. Not. One.

I almost don't know what to think, having stumbled across a normal and nice guy. I was convinced they no longer existed in my area of the world! (No offense to any male North Texans here in SI) :)

The only things we've not agreed on so far is I prefer to drink through a straw, I like Long John Silvers and can't stand cream gravy, and he doesn't use a straw, he'd rather go to Captain D's, and he really likes cream gravy. Not a dealbreaker in sight yet. Same political, religious, family views, taste in music and movies, etc. Our dates have ranged from really nice dinners to concerts to fishing to roaming the mall people-watching.

And - Ya'll, he holds doors open for me, pulls my chair out for me. Has since day one. The first time he did it I was like 'ok, i'll sit over here then' and he's all 'no, sweetie, i'm holding it out for you'. Threw me off. Not used to that. But am digging the hell out of it.

I'm taking it slow...But I am truly enjoying his company.

Note to self..... Google bowling alleys in my new city!

I loved reading your update! Gives me hope.

Hugs,

K

Awesome! Enjoy it all!

Yeah for you Phoenix!

The bowling alleys will wonder why there is such an uptick in bowlers in the next few weeks.

You just never know who you might meet while you are out enjoying your life!

Happy for you -

NL

Yay for a happy dating post!!!

I would soooo dump him over the straw thing.

Just kidding - enjoy!

My dad met my mom at a bowling alley! He was fresh out of the military and she worked there as a waitress!!! And, my best friend is married to a serious bowling league guy....so I say go for it!!! They are both amazing guys! I hope to meet a guy like either of them someday!

Ya know, I never thought about this before I read your post. But I met my first real GF in a bowling alley @ 14. And over the years I have dated 3 other women I met in one of those places. What's ironic is that I don't bowl. I find it boring and tedious. But I have gone to bowling alleys to hang with friends who do bowl and have been successful in meeting ladies. Perhaps I need to rethink my position on the sport.

Heh, just came back from taking the kids to the bowling alley. Should have been checking out the field then.

Filing under "good to know".

Ya just never know when a nice, "normal" guy is going to appear. I know I'd given up, and I was just going about my business, living my life, and shooting pool in competitions, when The Bear wandered in. I would NEVER have expected to meet a great guy in a biker bar shooting pool for money! The fact that he seemed intrigued after I beat him several times got him some major points.....but it still took months before I'd go out with him, I was watching for those red flags.

We've been together a year now, and it's been a damned tough year. But he's had my back at every single turn. I was very lucky to have him with me when my dad died, and my demented mom who lives with us recently told him she loved him. According to her - he grew on her. LOL!

For what it's worth, (and a chuckle), I had a vision of The Dude from "The Big Lebowski" from your title......and it made me grin. (BTW...I don't think "The Dude", at least the film version of The Dude, would be a good partner choice, but still....)

The Dude abides.....and it sounds like he might just be starting to abide in your heart. Good Luck!!!

Edited for clarity.....

[This message edited by exhausted lady at 6:47 PM, April 7th (Monday)]

Y'all say "Hi" to my ex, would ya? He bowls quite a bit, and even takes the kids. I'm sure he looks like quite the catch.

Nature_Girl....from your descriptions of your ex, I'm visualizing him as the guy that licks his bowling ball (very suggestively) before he throws it down the alley. Yikes!

Oh God....I still remember your "garage stories". I hope you brought in an exorcist (sp?) and a voodoo queen to cleanse that garage.

Yup, I'll bet your ex was/is.....a ball licker.

Thank you for your posting! So happy for you!

I have no doubt amazing men are out there and someday I will meet the one who loves the livin heck out of me :)

Licking a bowling ball? People lick bowling balls? You mean there's more gross stuff out there that I never thought of?

Licking a bowling ball? People lick bowling balls? You mean there's more gross stuff out there that I never thought of?

LMAO!!!!!!!

Yup. Hard to believe. If you ever get a chance watch "The Big Lebowski". Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and the really creepy guy (can't remember his name) that licks his bowling ball.

I don't mean to imply in any way, shape or form that 99.999% of bowlers would EVER consider doing that - but it is indelibly imbedded in my memory and I haven't seen that flick in years. It was really that icky/gross/weird!!!

Anyway, I used to bowl before I got tennis elbow, and I met a lot of really great people while I was bowling. PhoenixRising.....enjoy the nice, normal guy you just met. You never know when a great guy is going to appear. If he likes to bowl, I think I'd give him points just for that.

Happy, happy, happy for you PR88!!

Nature Girl, licking bowling balls is probably the least gross thing your ex would do.

^ consigned *shudder*

Phoenix, this sure made me smile for you.

PS: My parents also met in a bowling alley. They were married for 43 years.