If I found a sweetheart
this year,
we’d be in the honeymoon phase
until I turned 80;
when the 7-year itch arrived,
I’d be 83;
and chances are, when I hit 86—
the age predicted I would die by my yoga horoscope—
we’d be contemplating splitting up anyway.

I’m thinking of adding to my dating profile:
Healthy 75-year-old
with realistic attitude about the long term.

With me, you won’t have a golden anniversary
but the honeymoon phase
will be amazing
and include the best sex you’ve ever had.

If I found a sweetheart
by Memorial Day or the 4th of July,
when my next cake and candles rolled around,
I’d have a cutie on my arm.
And if the plague has passed,
we could take a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

How wonder full to have
a mutually passionate pact
to love, honor, respect and communicate in truth.
I know it will be crazy, with worlds colliding,
fire, flood, discouragement and growing pains…

but I’m in, I’m in for all of it.

*
This poem of mine is one of four accepted for the Redwood Writer’s 2022 anthology, Crossroads.  More information on the book here.

My visceral response to the complimentary session with Dr. W. convinced me that the longing for an intimate partner which I couldn’t seem to shake was legitimate, and that my desire possible to fulfill. I’ve used therapists and creative counselors all my adult life. Giving myself six sessions with a relationship coach seem an appropriate 75^th birthday gift.

At this link is a video of “If I Found a Sweetheart” with a background of collages I created to “call in the one.”  The Jennie who did this performance was feeling pretty bad-ass and confident.