That's not "sparkles", but spark-less. I'm referring to my blind lunch date yesterday. That's "in a word" my impression of how things went.

This dating game/scene isn't easy. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing. Sure, I enjoy sharing my life and doing things with someone else. But then again, I enjoy, as the Duke Ellington song goes, "in my solitude".

My initial impression, at first sight, was "she looks old"! (She's 66 or 67). Short, gray, wrinkly (but not overweight).
Not bad looking--sorta cute, I suppose. But I "saw" Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies. Ugh. Not a good vision. She's even a great grandmother!

I could tell right off, she was a typical Hoosier. Very pleasant, poor grammar ("he don't"). I cringed several times. High school education, factory worker all her life, and many other things about her were different than my tastes. Country western, beer and potato chips.

So, how do you tell a nice lady we're "one and done"?: Thank you for the lunch date, but I won't be calling on you again.
No offense, but we're simply not suited for each other.

Next up is a gal from Indianapolis that I've been in contact with, but haven't met in person. Here I go again with perspiring armpits and elevated blood pressure, just thinking about it. It's not worth the stress and anxiety.

But then again........