“If you have carefully examined hundred people you met in your life journey, it means that you have read hundred different books! Every person you know is a book; world is full of walking books; some are boring, some are marvelous, some are weak, some are powerful, but they are all useful because they all carry different experiences of different paths!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

On Friday I worked from home so that I could easily meet S. for lunch.  He is a successful 54 year old patent attorney.  He lives about 40 minutes from me.  We met 12pm at a Mexican Restaurant near my home, La Herradura. 

He had an avocado salad and vegetable quesadilla.  He is vegetarian, slowly becoming vegan. I am not! I had a ground beef empanada and chicken quesadillas. We didn’t order alcohol.  He said he would drink if I wanted to drink, as he wouldn’t let me drink alone. I opted not to have a drink.  It just felt too early to me, plus I wouldn’t want him having a drink and then driving.

Lately, it seems to me that there are 2 topics that can be very polarizing. Specially when initially meeting someone.  They are: Trump and Veganism. I will not get along with anyone that is not only hardcore on those topics, but that, worst, will try to change my mind on my views about it.

I will respect people’s choice and opinions, but there is nothing I hate more than to have people try to convert me into their way of thinking. He did not.  He said he changed his eating habits due to health, the environment and ethics.  I understand and appreciate that, but I am not there yet.  My goal is to continue getting healthier, with moderation and balance being my guide.

We didn’t really discuss politics, but he mentioned being happy that Trump is gone.  He seemed shy and nervous at first, but once we started talking the conversation flowed. We talked non-stop for 3 hours. We both are the type that share everything and volunteers information.

There is no question I won’t ask, and it turns out there is no question he won’t answer, so it was a perfect match 🙂 We talked about serious stuff, but we also joked and laughed a lot. His sense of humor matched mine.

“The power of getting to know one another is so immense, eclipsed only by first getting to know ourselves.” ― Bryant McGill

I found out that his baggage is way heavier than mine. At our age (over 50), we all have baggage, but some people do overpack.  He has been married twice with 5 kids from varying ages. He is still in the process of getting divorced from the second wife. It is not a pretty divorce. 

I am open minded about the situations that people find themselves in.  Life happens and it is often messy.  I don’t have children, and there are no kids in my family, so I do welcome a man with kids. What I don’t like is the potential nightmare ex scenario.

I detect something good about him and I am willing to see him again and see where it goes. It will require patience, since he has a lot on his plate.

After lunch I walked him to his car.  He seemed unsure how to say good bye, so I just hugged him.  Having masks on, it is easy to assume that there will be no good bye kiss.  I like not feeling that pressure.

We have been texting on and off since then.

“If you wish to glimpse inside a human soul and get to know a man, don’t bother analyzing his ways of being silent, of talking, of weeping, of seeing how much he is moved by noble ideas; you will get better results if you just watch him laugh. If he laughs well, he’s a good man.” ― Fyodor Dostoevsky