God smiled the day Shelby boldly said, “I can work from anywhere in the lower 48 states. All I need is a kitchen table and wifi.”
The dark years of widowhood had given her a thin
sense of invincibility, a silver lining, a super power that came from knowing
she’d survived what was once unthinkable. And now, at age 60, she knew it was
time—time to take off her wedding ring and begin living again.
And so it began—the adventure, an intentional act
of opening her heart to the possibility of finding someone to converse with over
coffee or dinner, perhaps see a movie or a play.
Friends from church recommended a dating app designed
for the over 50 set, and Shelby gathered a few photos then went to her daughter
for a little coaching.
A bit fearful, Shelby asked, “What do I do if
some guy sends me a nude photo?”
Her daughter replied with laughter, “Tell him
that stuff belongs on SnapChat.”
“Ok, then” Shelby thought, her eyebrows coming
together creating creases in her forehead, “Let’s give this a try.”
After Shelby uploaded her photos and completed
several questions, the app posted one photo over the prompt “How about we…” and
Shelby wrote “… be authentic. Let’s meet for coffee, drinks, dinner (or
Saturday morning hot stretchy yoga?) and see where it leads.”
No one showed up for yoga.
In the section called “Details” Shelby clicked
boxes: Self-employed. College. 2 children; 0 at home. Christian. Non-smoker.
Height 5’10.”
On a whim she did a little digging and discovered
that only 3.9% of American adult males are 6’2” or taller. “That explains so
much about my adolescence,” she quipped, remembering the awkwardness of being
the tallest person in her 7th grade class.
Then, rising to the statistical challenge of weeding out 96.1
percent of men, Shelby set her profile to include guys 6’1” and taller.
She quickly discovered… MEN LIE.
Shelby first posted her profile on January 4th
and 8 days later she met guy #1 for coffee. He was 5’7” at best.
On January 22nd she met guy #2 for dinner one
weekend and lunch the next. He lived on a houseboat docked on the Mississippi,
which promised summer fun, but it was winter. Shelby moved on.
Scrolling the app she challenged Bachelor #3 to a
small wager on the Super Bowl, and accepted a lunch invitation from guy #4.
When she had lunch with #4 at a local diner, he was tall, clever, greeted her with a hug, and managed to overcome Shelby’s objection to being walked to her car. Apparently it’s an app thing. The guy walks you to your car, like it’s the front door of your apartment. “Good to know,” thought Shelby as she drove away, then later found herself wondering if he’d expected a kiss.
About the same time, Shelby side-stepped an invitation from a much younger man. “I’m flattered AND it would just be awkward,” Shelby said. “You’re the same age as my daughter.”
Then, on Valentine’s Day there were six messages
from age-appropriate men.
Shelby, who didn’t much care for Valentine’s Day,
couldn’t help but recall that time back in high school when the Future
Homemakers of America had frosted cookies for a bake sale with “Happy VD.”
“That was great” thought Shelby, laughing out loud before listening to the messages and updating her calendar: coffee Wednesday with #4 (he’d walked her to her car), a drink Thursday with Bachelor #3 (he’d lost their Super Bowl bet and owed her a shot of Tequila), AND dinner Friday with #5 (he’d appeared on the app after she’d expanded her search to Minnesota).
As a woman who highly valued monogamy, this 3-night, 3-guy lineup
left Shelby feeling stressed. After thinking about it for a bit, Shelby was
convince authenticity was the way to go.
On Wednesday #3 didn’t show up for coffee. “Well,
that’s authentic,” said Shelby, feeling a little snarky.
On Thursday, the tequila led to a margarita, appetizers
and great conversation. When Shelby left the pub, she found herself looking forward
to seeing #3—again.
During her drive home that night, #5 texted, and
Shelby inwardly groaned. At this point meeting another guy seemed like a waste
of time.
On Friday #5 rolled into town, selected a restaurant,
then texted her. Shelby happened to be at a nearby car wash, so when he came
through the door, she was standing at the host station wearing a 70s retro shirt,
jeans and a pair of clogs with 3” wood heals—just in case he’d lied about his
height.
If arriving early or Shelby’s enhanced height caught
#5 off guard he didn’t miss a beat, greeting her with a hug. Then a moment
later, when he went back out to his car to get something and he left her
standing there, she gave him a smidgen of grace.
The something turned out to be chocolates in a
red heart-shaped box. “So much for authenticity” she thought accepting the candy
with a smile, hiding her true feelings about Valentine’s Day.
3 ½ hours later, when #5 yawned, Shelby realized it
was time to call it a night. He paid the check, held the door for her, then walked
her across the parking lot. As they reached her car, Shelby opened the back
door and tossed the chocolates onto the seat, then watched in horror as the candy
skidded to the floor.
“Glad I didn’t open THAT box.” she thought,
silently.
A moment later, when #5 took Shelby in his arms
and kissed her, she didn’t want the evening to end. But, before she could
object, he tucked her into her car and said goodnight.
Sometime later he texted an invitation to breakfast, making it clear it was her turn to pick the restaurant.
The next morning they split an omelet, then spent
the day exploring her city. That night they enjoyed a play at the performing
arts center, and made plans to attend church on Sunday.
God smiled again when, after church, the pastor
in her city reached out to a good friend—the pastor in his, and before #5
arrived home, news of Shelby had already spread.
12 days later she drove to his city and met his
daughter. Shelby kicked off her clogs in the entryway, and later discovered the
dog had used one for a chew toy. Go figure!
The following evening, on the way to dinner with some
of his friends, #5 pulled up in front of a house Shelby wasn’t familiar with
and put the car in park. “If it’s ok, I’d like you to meet my mom.”
“Yeah. No.” thought Shelby, her face contorting into
a grimace as she got out of the car.
A few minutes later, in the awkward silence,
Shelby leaned into authenticity, “Well, this is awkward,” she said. “I haven’t
been introduced to a guy’s mother like this since 1985.”
61 days later Shelby relocated.
Her sister uses the word Thunderstruck.
Shelby now works from the kitchen table in a cozy
Rambler owned by #5. His house. Their home.
She laughed recently, recalling the words that
began this adventure: “I can work from anywhere… all I need is a kitchen table
and wifi.”
Then she sat down and began working on a new short story, her first few keystrokes revealing the title: Kitchen Table.
-rjw
Originally shared on 02/04/2026 at the Cultural Centre & Gallery Valentines Waffle Bar
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. Ps 37:23
