“I admit I’ve been married a time or two. I admit I know I’ve been called a fool.

Well that was many years ago, now I’ve changed. I’ve learned to play by the rules.

No more cattin’ around in the kitty pool. I admit, I want to start a brand new life.

And I admit it, I want to find another wife.

Don’t want no babies, no 20 year old girl,

I want an older lady who can rock my world.

One that knows the difference between right and wrong,

and knows how to love me all night long.

I want a 50 year old woman.”
” I want a 50 year old Woman”  Words and Music by Lonnie Carpenter

Ok, you are fifty-something, your kids are grown and out of the house, single and looking for love. Now What? Where do you go? What do you do? Is it too late to find the love of your next life? That’s what many of us 50 year old men are asking these days.  Does anyone really want to hang out at bars and ogle over the room of women while sitting on a bar stool with a beer in your hand hoping to get lucky that night? Not me! I know there have been great romances and marriages that have been created by such encounters but mostly not.

So now what? What are we looking for in romance now?  I’ve always been told that in order to find the right person you need to be the right person first.  If you want an attractive woman, be willing to work out and eat right so you’ll be physically attractive to them.  Know your weaknesses and accept your failures so that you are not overly conscious about your faults and no be so dang sensitive. Hey we all have faults and failures don’t we?  Mostly we just want a friend we can enjoy this wonderful life with and be able to share our views of the world openly and candidly.  You have to be able to talk and laugh about our past mistakes and be proud of the good things we have done with our lives and for others.

And hey, let’s not forget about the bedroom.  We may feel like we are old sometimes but we still have physical needs that need to be met and a healthy sexual atmosphere is just a natural progression of a loving relationship.  Like the adage goes “use it or lose it”.

Oh well, I’m the eternal optimist and I believe there is some one for everyone if we will just be patient.  And like I said, be the kind of person that you would like to attract.”  People in their 50’s still look good (some of you ladies are really hot) and are wiser because of our experiences, we hope.  That’s the reason I want a 50 year old woman and not some immature young thing that hasn’t a clue about what life’s all about.

Lonnie Carpenter, is a songwriter and singer who takes you back to the cool, swinging and romantic days with his one man show – “The Classic Hits of Yesterday”.  Contact Lonnie at 704-798-2821 or by email at lonniec923@yahoo.com

I myself feel sad to have our own children in different states this Thanksgiving, but am grateful that they are independent enough to be at a distance, and love watching their lives unfold in new ways.

Any readers who are interested in more holiday thoughts for parents of young adults, please visit the Parenting Twenty-Somethings blog at http://parenting20-somethings.blogspot.com. Your stories and comments are welcome!

“I read your magazine when I got home.  Really enjoyed it.  Keep up the good work.  Two stories hit me.  The first, Woodstock.  I was there.  I was a flower child.  Totally brought me back to the moment.  Also pg 28.  “We are the Baby Boomers”.  Oh, yes we are!!!  I was cheering with that one.  I felt like I was standing on a mountain top saying, “I am a baby boomer and proud of it.  Check me out at 60.  I am not my grandmother!  No housedress, apron and rocking chair for me.  NO THANK YOU.  Although, I certainly honor and admire the woman she was in her time.” Sandi Dickinson

“Recently my wife and I relocated to Huntersville, from snowy Syracuse, for semi-retirement purposes.  Upon our visit to Harris Teeter, in Cornelius yesterday, we were both delighted to first see  your magazine in the rack at that store.  In Syracuse we were regular readers of the 50Plus Magazine which is a Central NY Publication that many people look forward to on a monthly basis.  After we both consumed your publication we both feel that void is now filled.  Many useful articles as well as an ad for something we want to do this weekend (The Festival at Latta Plantation).  Thanks much for making us both feel  more at home.” Joe Starociak

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How can I get a hardcopy of the print magazine if I am in New England?” Susan Alle