Huron-Perth Boomers - Spring 2023

OPINION
Life Recalibration
My friends and my sister said I needed a man.
They said I must be lonely, and that I should
try to find someone.
I’m pretty sure they felt sorry for me, even though
I didn’t feel sorry for me – I was happy on my own.
I had an active travel life, was working from home
part time for my “fun money,” and was living
comfortably on my pension in London, Ont.
I had total independence in all my decisions. Any
idea I had, any destination, any weird thing I wanted
to eat for dinner – all of it was my choice and mine
alone. There is undeniably absolute freedom in
single-hood, and I didn’t need a man to ‘complete
me.’
But still… sometimes, if I paid attention, the
loneliness started to creep in. It happened the
most when I travelled. Watching couples holding
hands over candle-lit dinners in romantic European
restaurants highlighted my alone state, while I had
meals delivered to my bedside table for one in my
hotel room, please.
NAVIGATING A NEW LOVE AFTER 60
BY LAURALEE GILIBERTI
Lauralee Giliberti found love later
in life, despite uncertainty.
Seeing those happy couples, I remembered the joy
of having someone to hang out and connect with –
someone who knows my story and gets me. A part
of me wanted what love songs and every Christmas
movie ever made talked about – to be in Love with
a capital ‘L.’ Even now, years later, admitting I was
lonely cuts to the quick because I was very adept
at sailing my boat up the river of denial. One day,
mustering up all my courage, I decided to dip my toes
22 • HURONPERTHBOOMERS.COM