by Cindi Clarke

Created on: November 21, 2008   Last Updated: April 20, 2011

I've been thinking of writing a book about my dating experiences. I might call it "S.A.N.E. (Single And Not Exclusively) Dating ~ or All You Need To Know To Join A Convent."

I'm a "closer to 50 that I'd like to admit" professional woman who has been single (again) for over two years. Over the last several years my dating experiences have kept my family and friends laughing - and I'm sure for some of them, kept them married as well since the tales I have shared would deter them from considering ending their relationships.

When I was in my 20's and 30's, dating wasn't a problem. It wasn't yet entirely an oxymoron to say that you had met a "nice, single" guy. I still believed in "true love." It was easy to meet someone, even with working a full time job and going to college part-time, there was always time to go clubbing with the girlfriends.

Now... now it seems almost impossible to meet someone. Clubs and bars are filled with 20 and 30-somethings who believe in true love and happily ever after. They still feel immortal and full of fire to chase that elusive "one." They dance all night and can still wake up to go to work or school the next morning without needed a triple-shot from Starbucks just for the drive.

I envy them. I want that fire again. That immortality.

Now, professional women my age don't really have an outlet for meeting single men our age. I've been advised to "find a church" but really don't want to use my place of worship as a set for the "Dating Game." What happens if I find someone, date for a while, and then have an uncomfortable break-up? Dating someone from work isn't smart professionally, and often winds up even uglier than dating someone from church. That leaves just recommendations from friends and family or... the dreaded Internet dating arena.

I know that there are thousands of people who have had successful matches and marriages from any of the Internet dating services. Me? Not so much. I'll give you an example and you decide.

I met Harry through an Internet dating service. Harry and I exchanged emails over the course of a few weeks, then phone numbers and phone calls for another few weeks until finally I felt comfortable enough to meet him at a local restaurant when I had a group of friends with me. We had a good time, and met a few more times for lunch over the next few weeks. This time I had Googled him, searched for hidden arrest or marriage records and didn't find any surprises. At last I felt I knew him well enough to give him

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