#25 - An "Accomplished" Gentleman

I spent last evening chatting to a gentleman who messaged me on the dating site last week. He didn't have a photo, and I normally dismiss them at this juncture, but he gave me his real name and asked to google him. I was pleasantly surprised. It stated that he had written 6 books of poetry, over 700 published journals and was an accomplished businessman. I set out to unfold why he was on this dating site ;) During the course of our "chats" I discovered that he had been separated for two years, was 59 years old (much older than I), had a PhD and was very literate. My adrenalin was pumping. Could this be the one? He began to send me some of his poetry and it was good, although a little erotic, but beautifully written. I was enticed... Then I asked him some hard questions. How long had he been separated? Why did he get separated at age 57? Did he still cohabitate with his ex? Was he living alone or with another person? ... It turns out that he is living with a female "friend" whom he was intimate with "only once" 10 years ago. She is much older than him, nearly 70 and quite ill with a lung disease. She has a caregiver and he helps her out in any way he can (quite honourable, I suppose). However, she took him in after his separation and they are both in a financial downturn (uh huh!) Then he sent me the first chapter of his "novel", soon to be made into a screenplay. It was pure smut, a threesome (involving the waitress) in a popular restaurant. "Extreme sex intertwined with a meal". So I began to critique it. First of all I told him to add names to his main characters. He called them P. and M. Secondly, I suggested that he superimpose the sexual closeness in a love relationship and that he tone it down significantly. It was over the top. I suggested that he leave the waitress out of it and make her oblivious to the whole thing (much more subliminal). I asked him to develop his characters and write about a love story between two people in the midst of the human condition. Finally I told him that he was too good for this and should write a real "novel". Who would want such a "screenplay". He responded "the porn industry"... Repeated Lesson #25 Men on internet dating sites can misrepresent themselves, even the "accomplished" ones! Life Lesson for the Gentleman - Don't attempt to date a lady when you are cohabitating with a former lover and work to your potential when you are writing the great Canadian novel (the majority of women are not interested in porn!)