The unregenerate mindset is just plain nosey, and manipulative. So pathetic, in their major-mag articles, inciting unmarried women,

in their 50s and 60s, to get out there and ... basically make horse's petitutes of themselves.  Reality is: it's a fallen world, and in this temporal place, if the buffet is being served at 1pm, there won't be much left by 3:30 - okay, there's still available a few nuts, some dried up cheese, and a few half-wilted veges.  As for the wine ... ever notice how wine (brand name stuff, not the cheap crap) has a rather bitter aftertaste?  Maybe the $200 per bottle stuff doesn't; i don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if that over-priced stuff had a bit of a vinegary aftertaste as well...the ole more-sizzle-than-steak, too commonplace.

Frankly, think it was peer-pressure that drove those two or three old women into disturbing that old widower - who, every wednesday, would put on some nice clothing, and treat himself to lunch at a family restaurant.  And i think that was basically the reason Gram backed away from involvement in the senior-citizens, not long after GrandDad passed away - they had both been active in organizing the bus trips and stuff.  Think Gram was becoming increasingly put-off at seeing women of her age group acting so desperate.  Btw, this was back in the late 80s (before all the divorce-of-cccourrsse drama) when unmarried old women were generally widows.

Gram always said that her husband was a "tough act to follow."  Yep, i think the same way about my late husband.