*I am honored that Author B. Lynn Goodwin has provided a guest post while on her WOW: Women on Writing Book tour promoting her new book Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62. She will approach the topic of online dating, which is a subject all too familiar in the military world.*

It’s been over six years since I perused Men Seeking Women on Craigslist. Tonight I went in looking for the kind of ad I would not respond to. I found plenty, but none that I was willing to post here.

Instead I’ll share the ad that attracted me. It was posted late on the Fourth of July 2011, and a few minutes after it went up, I found it.

“1944 classic roadster with many miles left!
Motor hums, transmission smooth and all the gears work!
Smokes a little but the amenities make up for it.  
Only two previous owners, very great women.
Come and kick the tires. 
Two tone, white with a gray top.
Seeking a new woman owner who knows how to drive a classic!
Please put “classic” in your title for reply.
Thanks
PS> This car is at church every Sunday so if that is a problem with you, this car is not for you.”   

I loved the extended metaphor, though I wasn’t sure he knew he’d written one. He certainly made it easy for me to write this response:

“Love your ad. 

I suppose I’d be a 1949 classic roadster. Motor hums unless it hesitates. Transmission and gears probably need a road test. Has never smoked. Original owner.  Isn’t kicking the tires painful? Two tone, white with a reddish-brown top. This classic roadster could be parked next to yours on Sunday.

Our roads aren’t perfectly parallel. Might make life interesting. =) If anything piques your interest, feel free to write back.”

This is not a typical Craigslist ad, but the two of us communicated a great deal in that exchange. After years of looking and one platonic relationship, I wanted to meet the clever man who had compared himself to a 1944 roadster.

How do you find a kind, safe, loving partner on Craigslist?

• Know what you want
• Be able to articulate it clearly
• Be sincere and authentic
• Use discretion so you don’t scare people off
• Let your creativity as well as your authenticity shine through

If you are looking but not writing your own ad, as I was, meet in a public place and be prepared to end it after the first cup of coffee.

Truthfully, I know more about unexpected pleasant surprises than I do about dating on Craigslist. Many of the ads are too blatant for me. So look for what you want or tell the world what you want. Be yourself. As I’m sure you know, everyone else is taken.

I know that meeting Richard happened because of his ad and his timing. We both believe that timing was somehow influenced or controlled by a power greater than either one of us. Read about our adventures in Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62. It’s available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, indie bookstores, and it’s distributed by Ingram.

Photo credit to: B. Lynn Goodwin

Lynn Goodwin owns Writer Advice. Her memoir, Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 was just released by Koehler Press. She’s written You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers and Talent, which was short-listed for a Literary Lightbox Award, won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and was a finalist for a Sarton Women’s Book Award.

Goodwin’s work has appeared in Voices of Caregivers, Hip Mama, Dramatics Magazine, Inspire Me Today, The Sun, Good Housekeeping.com, Purple Clover.com and many other places. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network, and she is an editor, writer and manuscript coach at Writer Advice.

Connect with Lynn Goodwin at:

Website: http://www.writeradvice.com/

Blog: https://blynngoodwin.com/blog-page/

© Strength 4 Spouses, LLC 2018.