| The liberation of the single female has long been a | | | | savings. |
| subject for analysis amongst women and a | | | | The prognosis for the older female is a bit grim if |
| matter of considerable aggravation to that | | | | she would really like to have a partner late in life |
| creature of opposite persuasion in all things, the | | | | but personally I find such ladies, more often than |
| chauvinistic man. | | | | not, set their standards a little high when seeking |
| In recent years there has been a noticeable | | | | friendship with a view to romance. |
| blossoming of the species known in most social | | | | Out of the half dozen friends I have in this |
| circles as the 'retired single lady living alone.' There | | | | position, at least five of them actively seek out |
| was a time when such ladies were avoided like | | | | handsome men of independent means who will |
| the plague by their married friends; the logic being | | | | wine and dine them in high style, provide a little |
| that one's husband might be lured away to the | | | | romance on demand and then leave them alone |
| single lady's boudoir for a little extra curricular | | | | to enjoy their solitude when no longer required for |
| entertainment. | | | | entertainment. |
| Nowadays such ladies are regarded with a little | | | | Men invariably resent such treatment, |
| more respect and consideration and in fact many | | | | unsurprisingly, and one can hardly blame them for |
| women who find themselves alone at the end of | | | | feeling exploited. |
| their lives relish their single state, enjoying their | | | | Another annoying behavioural trait is that when |
| freedom to choose how and with whom they | | | | you invite a single lady to your home for dinner, |
| might spend their time; embracing the idea of | | | | she will invariably enquire whether any single men |
| feminine independence, yet relishing the company | | | | will be attending and if you respond in the |
| of a circle of carefully selected friends. | | | | affirmative some will even assume you are trying |
| There are one or two drawbacks to such a | | | | your hand at match making! |
| lifestyle, however. Certainly the obvious bug in the | | | | Interestingly, these ladies often complain of being |
| ointment might be the lack of male physical | | | | neglected or used by these men when attentions |
| strength to open jars and put out the garbage, | | | | begin to dwindle below the required levels. They |
| not to mention cleaning high windows, washing the | | | | forget all too easily that the dating game is a two |
| car, moving furniture around when required and | | | | way street and with the stubbornness that |
| removing the odd offending spider or beetle, | | | | comes with age, refuse to compromise. Therein |
| which personally I would rather die than attempt. | | | | lies the key, of course; those who wish to find |
| A less obvious disadvantage is emotional | | | | lasting companionship need to look more closely at |
| loneliness, the lack of someone to share dinner | | | | their own reflection in the mirror before refusing |
| with in the evenings, someone to share time with | | | | to date a man with a hernia and age freckles. |
| on the weekend, and someone to look after you | | | | The other aspect is, of course, the old prophecy |
| when you are not well; such incidences tend to | | | | about the number of fish in the sea. Men age far |
| occur more often later in life, so it is hardly | | | | more gracefully than women; that is a time |
| sensible to choose a solitary lifestyle, just when a | | | | tested fact. Annoyingly, so many men in their late |
| companion is most needed. | | | | fifties begin to look quite tasty, despite having |
| Many ladies in this position have had several male | | | | been extremely ugly most of their adult years. |
| partners throughout their lives, each one coming | | | | There is something irresistible about a haggard, |
| to an end for a variety of reasons, some of | | | | lived in face - ask any Charles Bronson addict. |
| them no fault of the lady. Reaching their late | | | | Women, on the other hand, begin to take things |
| fifties, they find that men in their own age | | | | more seriously when they reach fifty plus and |
| bracket are seeking the company of ladies a | | | | just look as if their lives have suddenly become |
| good fifteen years their junior. | | | | branded on their faces. There is no fairness about |
| Men who are considerably older are, of course, | | | | the matter, it is just a fact. |
| more likely to require nursing as they come to | | | | So, ladies, if you are pushing fifty and want to |
| the end of their lives, so must be avoided at all | | | | find someone to love you in your golden years, |
| cost and much younger men often have an | | | | try lowering your expectations and raising your |
| unfortunate agenda when seeking the company | | | | sense of humour! |
| of an elderly lady companion with substantial | | | | |