my sentiments exactly, altho being out so long have created one's own.. Hesitation can sometimes be purposeful.
Was kidding about the scary, scary stuff, still it's a whole differtent planet and just don't know if the idea has totally settled in. I just like the idea still tho of a gentleman. Living in Clark County (las vegas area) is extremly transient and now turbulent with job/home loss still soaring. Am content where am now and if someone came along..it would be nice but am not searching, so to speak. Friends is just so much more a comfortable idea.

Does a woman wait for the man to call? I wait for the first call.

Should a woman make contact after the first meeting to thank him or wait until he contacts? I think it's much nicer if the man does it first.

Does a woman ever make first move for a kiss, hand holding? I don't.

30 years ago....... I believe they do, the man wants to pursue, it's the male nature, the woman, wants to be pursued that's feminine, they use to say : The man chases the girl until she caches him

there are still a few of us about , holding hands, a kiss in public life is for living aand we only get one chance 567termite

All jokes aside, I think we are old enough to do as we chose. Manners should be at the front of everything. If a lady wants to hold a gentleman's hand; I am sure they all can figure out how to achieve that. Kissing, we all know the little signs that show we are open to such acts. Anything else; I doubt any of us has really forgotten how to act.

Katz, just keep looking, bet you find what you seek.

I think the rules have changed quite a bit. As we men have matured we tend to move more slowly. From a woman's perspective, we may not be moving at all! For example, a little nudge in the way of an email asking about some innocent issue may be the lubrication needed to get some communication working. Email didn't exist 30 years ago.

"And I'll substantiate the rumor
that the English sense of humor
is drier than than the Texas sand."

You are a scholar and a gentleman, sir, maybe.

they say you're from down south
and every time you open your mouth
you always seem to put your foot there

I wanna go home w/ the armadillo
Good country music from amarillo and Abilene
The friendliest people and the purdiest women you've ever seen ...

Does that come with cut, color and a blow dry???

Take it from a Brit by heritage (100%),
yet one mellowed by centuries of New World
environmental saturation....
(382 years...count'em!)
The world needs all of us. I appreciate ALL
of your perspectives. Because if any were
missing, the world would be all the poorer for it.

OK..getting off my soapbox now....
WE ARE WAY OFF TOPIC
but I couldn't resist...

And, just to be perfectly clear here....
no one is permitted to think that I meant
I was 382 years old !!
Yes, I look younger than my age...but I'm not
that good.

Manners do make a difference to all of us. A simple "thank you" or "please" does speak to the beating of the human heart. To offer your seat to an older person, or a lady, or just because it feels good, or just because , for no other reason than; because, on a bus or tube still grants a smile on the face on many around you, perhaps in shame that they did'nt do the same thing...but still a blessing is running in the air. When that "Manners" is applied to family members the stakes are even higher, when that "Manners" is granted to someone you care about or want to impress the stakes are very great, and when that "Manners" is actually applied to the essence of your life, then this something incredible to aspire to.
We are all human in an increasingly chaotic and melodramatic society and we are rapidly losing the sense of commonwealth, of belonging to a more genteel and romantic lifestyle. To believe in Romance is the highest calling when a man dates a woman, or vice versa. Etiquette is really the extension of a romance with life, that happens to include hopefully, the person with you, and if you really practice it can become everyday, the norm, for you.

Good advice from all of you and humor to boot! Thank you.
I'm finding, for the most part, that most men on Mingle that have emailed me are comfortable emailing forever! We eventually meet(2 meetings and one coming up; 3 different men)but I'm usually the initiator without being pushy, I hope. Back in the day a guy would see a gal and asked her out. None of this babbling in email back & forth. Oh well.

"Back in the day" there was no email. Look at this as an opportunity....to talk with people you would never have a chance to meet otherwise.


Congratulations on getting out there

And good luck with your upcoming "meet"

There was a time when the New World was new that men and women would exchange mail over months, perhaps years, before meeting and marrying. Perhaps we are coming full circle. But the "rules" ... are for each couple to decide what is right for them at the time.