Tea, Walk and New Beginning
When I joined LocalSeniorDating.com, I promised myself I’d keep my expectations modest — perhaps a pleasant chat, a new friend, or, if I was very lucky, someone who didn’t mind my fondness for early-morning walks and late-afternoon tea.
At 67, I had a full life — my garden, my book club, my two chatty grandchildren, and a cat named Princess (who ruled my home with an iron paw). But there were moments, especially in the quiet evenings, when I missed sharing laughter over something silly or having someone to tell, “You won’t believe what my rosebush did today!”
One rainy Sunday afternoon, I made myself a cup of chamomile tea and decided to be brave. I signed up for LocalSeniorDating.com.
My profile read:
“Retired librarian, lover of gardens, crossword puzzles, and cream teas. Looking for good company, good conversation, and someone who doesn’t mind muddy shoes from long walks.”
Two days later, a message appeared:
“Hello Margaret, I don’t mind muddy shoes. In fact, my dog insists on them. Also, I make an excellent cup of Earl Grey — if you can overlook the occasional biscuit theft (by said dog, not me).”
His name was Walter, 70, a retired postman with a twinkle in his words. His profile photo showed him sitting on a park bench beside a small, scruffy terrier wearing what looked like a neckerchief.
I replied:
“Hello Walter, I think your dog and I could be friends — I always carry biscuits. I can’t promise to share them, though.”
He sent back:
“She’ll negotiate. She’s better at it than I am.”
And just like that, a friendship — and something more — began to bloom.
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We exchanged messages for a week. He told me about his adventures as a postman (“I know every barking dog in town by name”), his love of walking, and his passion for classic comedies.
After a while, he wrote:
“Would you care to meet in person? There’s a lovely park near the river where I take Daisy for her daily constitutional. I’ll bring the tea if you bring the biscuits.”
I said yes — after a brief pep talk in the mirror.
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The day of the meeting was bright and breezy, the kind of spring morning that makes the world feel new. Walter was waiting by the park gate, wearing a flat cap and holding two takeaway cups. Daisy, the terrier, was wagging her tail like she’d been expecting me.
- Margaret? - he asked, smiling warmly.
- Walter. - I said. - You must be the man who lets his dog steal biscuits.
He chuckled.
- Guilty as charged. She’s a terrible influence.
We started walking, Daisy trotting ahead like a furry chaperone. The conversation flowed easily, from favorite books to travel dreams to our shared inability to operate modern smartphones without help from younger relatives.
At one point, Walter said,
- It’s funny, isn’t it? I spent years walking this same park, never thinking that one day I’d meet someone who makes it feel completely different.
I smiled.
- I was thinking the same thing. It’s amazing what a little courage, and a website, can do.
We found a bench by the river and sat with our tea, watching the ducks argue over breadcrumbs. When Daisy tried to climb onto my lap, Walter laughed.
- I think she’s giving her approval.
- Well, - I said, petting her, - I suppose every good love story needs a dog.
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That was nearly a year ago. Now, Walter and I still walk that same park every morning — rain or shine — and we’ve added a tradition: tea on the same bench, biscuits (still negotiated by Daisy), and laughter that never seems to run out.
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If someone had told me I’d find love again in my late sixties, I might have smiled politely and gone back to pruning my roses. But LocalSeniorDating.com reminded me that love doesn’t fade with age — it simply grows gentler, wiser, and sometimes a bit funnier.