The Old Man

I was doing some volunteer work for an organization that will remain nameless.  My job was to welcome the attendants as they arrived at the hospitality suite.  I thought to myself…..no problem, just put on your happy face and you'll be fine.  One thing you should note is that I am known to have "Bitch Face." I promise I am a well adjusted and happy person, lol.

Guest are arriving, and my cheeks are hurting from all the smiling.  Low and behold, "The Old Man" shows up.  I welcome him to the suite and keep it moving.  Well, he didn't leave.  He looks me up and down, asked for my name, and had this goofy grin on his face.  At that point, I could have cared less about this.  I was just trying to look like the happiest person ever and could only focus on the task at hand.

A couple of hours go by and it's time to go home.  I make my way to the lobby and bump into "The Old Man."  During this time, he asked for my number.  Now that my cheeks had relaxed and I didn't have to worry about my "bitch face" I was more inclined to hold a conversation.  Turns out he was pretty cool.  We made plans to meet up the following day.

So let's fast forward.  After the conference weekend, we stayed in touch.  We didn't reside in the same city, but we did a good job with phone calls and routine texts.  It was during one of those conversations I discovered he was 17 years older than me.  I am so glad he told me that via phone conversation.  My face was no good after that.  After careful thinking, I decided "age ain't nothing but a number."

Some weeks have gone by and I was asked to go out of town with him.  We had a blast!  In my mind, I was thinking, "Dating an older person rocks."  He's established, gotten the "ho" out of his system, and knows how to communicate.  He even came to my city for my birthday weekend months later.  I "thought" we were having fun.

Welllllllllll, I might have spoken prematurely.  As the months passes, I was comfortable enough to "dig deeper."  I knew he was a divorcee' but I had not asked how long he had been divorced.  From the very beginning, I told "The Old Man" I was dating for potential and looking for long term.  He told me he was on the same page.  HE WAS NOT!  The ink had barely dried.  It had been less than six months since he and his ex-wife divorced.  Plus, he told me he was not interested in having additional children.  News alert, I am 17 years younger than him and plan to use these ovaries.

In addition, he started pulling disappearing acts.  What used to be daily calls turned into occasional texts.  I was not amused.  I called him out on his bull.  I then got the "I am an introvert" speech.  According to him, he has to have time to recharge.  Folks, please recall we don't live in the same city.  It's not like I pack a bag and camp out at his house for days on end.  It's not like I don't have a job, and spend all my time calling him.  It's not like I send 20 texts in a row.

It was time for "the talk."  I explained to "The Old Man" that I had been nothing but upfront with him and how he was contradicting himself.  I explained how I barely knew anything about him and he uses the whole extrovert speech as an excuse.  I had to break it down that I am not a toy that he can play with when he wants to.  I am a person who enjoys consistency.  In the end, he actually agreed to what I told him.  I thanked him and kindly let him know the damage had been done.  I made a mental note to myself, don't date self proclaimed introverts!