In the two and a half years I have done Donna’s Daily Dairy this is the first time I have ever done a week of Donna’s Daily Diaries in one entry, but it is the only way to get it up to date and get a fresh start with this week. Holy cow, last week was one of those weeks where even super multi tasking did not give me enough time to get everything done.
My first priority was the Magic of Two event for Peak Education. This is my second year of being a volunteer on the committee and the few days before the annual fund raising gala consisted of tying up a bunch of loose ends and getting everything in place to ensure a successful event. Peak Education is a nonprofit organization now in its 14th year. They help economically challenged students from middle school and high school, in the Harrison school district, have the opportunity for a college education that they would otherwise never be able to afford. If a student enrolls and the completes the Peak Education program, their college education is paid for and the success rate for the students who enroll and succeed is 100%. I got hooked a couple of years ago when my friend, Dee, the CEO, invited me to attend a function which included meeting some of the students who had completed the program and were already college graduates and other students who were currently enrolled in the program. That first night I met a young man who graduated from Harrison and, because of his enrollment in Peak Education, was now back at Harrison as a teacher with his degree in Physical Education. I also met a young lady who was so excited to have been accepted into the Peak Education program because she had experienced her sister completing the program and obtaining her college degree. This is another one of those “has nothing to do with matchmaking but everything to do with life” stories and I cannot express how good it feels to be even a small part of this organization that helps these amazing kids graduate from college. If you are looking for a worthy cause to devote your time or money to, please visit their website at www.peakedu.org.
Back to matchmaking, my first appointment, is a lady, mid 20’s, ABS, educated, her long term goal is marriage and children. She was referred to me by her sister-in-law who met and married through Perfectly Matched five years ago. She ended a long term serious relationship a few months ago and is ready to start dating again. She was going to try one of the online services but she did not feel comfortable putting her information and picture out there for all the world to see. She is a teacher and she could not imagine one of her students parents finding her on a dating site. She did not know her brother had met his wife through Perfectly Matched until a couple of weeks ago when her sister-in-law suggested she should give me a call.
She said “My brother always said he met her through friends because he did not want anyone to know he had gone to a dating service.” However, when she talked to her brother about it, he also thought she should give me a call. He did not want her to go on any on the online dating sites because he did not think they were very safe. She said “If you could find a wife for my brother, I am sure you can find the right man for me.” She thought her brother would be a difficult person to match and could not believe he was lucky enough to meet someone who seems so right for him. She said “It makes a lot more sense to know that someone else found her for him.” Her brother was actually an easy match and the lady he married was just his second match.
Her interests include photography, reading, hiking, cross country skiing, exploring bookstores, gardening, cooking, movies, and she is currently taking scuba diving lessons. She said “I wanted to do something totally outside my comfort zone and when I decided to take scuba diving lessons I had no idea if I would make it through the first class.” As it turns out, she loves it, and would like to meet someone who also scubas, or is willing to try it. She would love to travel with someone special and see some of the world before settling down to marriage and children. She also feels strongly about traveling as a family once the children are old enough. She said “I would love to put my kids in an RV and travel to some of the National Parks and make it one huge adventure.”
She is very sweet, an “8” on a scale of “0” to “10” in temperament, healthy, fit and active. She said “I am not a “girly girl”. Jeans, T shirts, tennis shoes, my hair in a ball cap with my ponytail sticking out the back, that is how I am most comfortable. I have two dresses for special occasions and I can wear them when I have to, otherwise, give me my jeans. She is a natural beauty, whatever she is wearing.
She is now a new client and I have the opportunity to find her a husband, just like I found her brother his wife. It’s fun to keep it in the family, and there is one more brother who is still single. Can you say “Trifecta?”
My next appointment is a man, late 40’s, divorced, educated, one young child, and his long term goal is marriage. He is also open to having another child with the right person. He said “I love kids and if everything else felt right, I would definitely consider having more children.” He is a very young looking, thinking, acting late 40’s. He was referred to me by a friend and former client and he booked an appointment with me a year ago. He cancelled that appointment, but here he is a year later and ready to make his personal life a priority. He is very optimistic and upbeat, a “9” in temperament on a scale of “0” to “10”, very kind hearted and compassionate.
He said “I would love to find someone who is willing to put as much into a relationship as I am.” He is a true romantic and bubble baths with rose pedals, calming music and a glass of wine is something you might find waiting for you when you come home from work. He thinks there is nothing better than cooking a great meal in the kitchen with someone special. He LOVES to cook. He also enjoys hiking, mountain biking, weight lifting, travel, deep sea fishing, live theater, and wine tastings.
He is a strong believer and would want to share his faith. He is a Christian and he is open to any Christian faith. He goes to church at least three times a month but someone going to church is not as important as the fact that they are a strong believer. He has 50% custody of his child and they are a package deal. I said “There will be some ladies in your age range that may not feel comfortable with the fact that you have a young child but I won’t be introducing you to those ladies.”
He is very excited about the ladies I shared information on whom I think are good matches for him. He said “Donna, I am so confident that I will meet the right lady through this process, I can’t wait to get started.” One of the Ideal Relationships I read him really appealed to him. He said “You could just copy that and put it in my file.” I said “No fair, you have to do your homework like everyone else.” He said “I could not be more positive about this experience. What do I need to do to get started?” It may have taken him a year to come in, but he is ready to rock n’ roll, and I will have his first match set up in a couple of days. Lots of matches for this fellow. He has every reason to be excited.
I interviewed a couple of other people this week who are going to “think about it” and get back to me next week. My gut says one will be a new client and one won’t…I am usually right about that, but the one who I think “won’t” said he would “get back to me in a month or two.” Most people say a day or two. I said “What is going to change in the month or two you take to think about it?” He said “I might meet someone on my own and save all this money.” He has not been in a serious relationship for the entire four years he has been divorced. He is a “3” in finance on a scale of “0” to “10”, very frugal, but that money in the bank won’t keep him warm at night. Maybe I will see him in another four years…and, if I do, I will still have his paperwork!
To be continued……..