Dating – Writer Or Wrong

Romance At The Garbage Can

Posted on July 23, 2025July 23, 2025 by Joe Merkle

An odorous affair

There are moments in everyone’s life that are often unexpected and unexplainable. Moments that take one’s breath away. Surprises so great they change one to the core and truly awaken your heart center. This is one of those stories. The names of the characters in this story are fictional to protect the innocent. Wait…so are the characters. At least I think so, but I’m not sure.

George Jetson was hoping that today would be the day he would find out about his possible promotion to manager, handling mergers and acquisitions. It would be life-changing for his ego and pocketbook. It was a misty April Monday morning when he exited his rented flat in the Camden borough of London. Imagine that. A foggy morning in London, he thought. He was also hopeful of seeing the attractive woman he would occasionally run into when they would both dump their garbage into the community dumpster. I still don’t know her name. I’d like to arrange a merger with her.

Judy Garland left her rented flat in the borough of Camden. Another boring day of work, she whispered aloud while walking towards the dumpster with her bag of garbage. I wonder if that nice man will be there. I still don’t know his name. Judy was to be 31 next month, and she felt as if her life had passed her by. I’ve had the same job for the last 15 years. A stupid sales clerk in a nearby women’s clothing store. Not a great place to meet a man.

George and Judy arrived at the dumpster simultaneously. George took the initiative, still feeling a buzz about his possible promotion. “Good morning. We have to stop meeting like this,” he joked.

He has a sense of humor. I like that. “I suppose you’re right. It’s not very intimate.” Judy turned bright red upon realizing what she just suggested.

George suppressed his laughter the best he could. “Well, I suppose you’re right about that. I’m George,” he shared as he extended his hand.

“I’m Judy,” she shared while shaking his hand. She was stunned for a moment when she felt an electric shock through her entire body while holding his hand. What the… She then shocked herself when she said, “You have such an electric touch.”

George was teetering on the edge. He’d never been so quickly enamored by a woman. Could it be from a past life we shared? Throwing caution to the wind, he approached her, gently took her hands in his, and kissed her. Briefly, both were surprised by their reactions, then passion enveloped them, soaring them to heights neither had experienced before.

“I’m sorry. I’ve never done anything like that before,” George apologized while breaking from their embrace and hoping that Judy enjoyed it as much as he had.

“No need to apologize. I was thinking how nice it would be to kiss you. And then you did. As if you read my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.”

“I did as well.” George threw her trash bag into the dumpster. “I have to run now. I have a big day at work today. I hope to meet you again at our garbage dumpster.”

“It’s a date,” replied Judy. “I’ll be here every Monday morning, even if I have no garbage.”

“Same. Can I kiss you again?” asked George.

“Yes,” replied Judy with a smile that could melt the ice caps.

Three months passed, and every Monday morning, the two met at the garbage dumpsters, sharing kisses and small conversations. Now they only meet at the garbage can in George’s kitchen, where they both live — sharing much more than kisses.

Love is all around us. Even at a garbage dumpster. We only need an open heart to find it.

Thank you for reading.

Make Anticipation An Occupation

Posted on January 7, 2024January 7, 2024 by Joe Merkle

Expect the best for yourself

Image by https://www.freepik.com/author/garetsvisual

Few things in life offer greater gifts than anticipation. Take a moment and reflect upon some life experiences you eagerly anticipated which gave you great joy.

Do you recall those late springs as a child when you couldn’t wait for that last day of the school year? Freedom! Freedom to roam the neighborhood, hang with friends, and occasionally do idiotic things that led to trouble with your parents. When we could stay up late at night and sleep late in the morning. Good times.

Sporting activities also present great anticipation. Your first Little League game. Your first soccer match. Your first basketball game. Do you remember how eager and nervous you were at the time? And how wonderful those experiences were?

Was there anything more anticipated as a child than Christmas morning? What gifts did Santa leave under the tree for you? Running into your parents’ room to wake them shouting, “Santa’s been here!” as you did your best to drag them from their bed. And decades later, when your children did the same to you.

As teenagers, anticipation shifts gears. Along with excitement, it can lead to doubt and trepidation. On the first day of high school when your world expands exponentially. Will I make new friends? I hope I can find all my classes. Will the seniors pick on me? Will I be accepted? Please don’t let me miss my bus.

But none of this compares to the anticipation regarding a first date. This will vary considerably if you are male or female. Generally speaking, males in high school are clueless when it comes to the opposite sex. Certainly, they are attracted to the opposite sex as hormones run rampant. The fear of rejection often stifles any attempt to ask a girl on a date. What if she says yes? What do I do then? Go ahead and laugh, girls. That fear of rejection often conquers the excitement of anticipation of a first date.

A girl in high school has an advantage regarding a first date. First, they have been preparing for this with Barbie and Ken dolls for years. They may have been changing the diapers of their younger brother and are somewhat familiar with male body parts. Practice makes perfect. This doesn’t mean they don’t fall prey to doubts and anxiety. Am I pretty enough? What should I wear that is sexy but not slutty? Should I laugh at his jokes if they’re not funny? Why isn’t Tommy asking me out? What can I do to get John to ask me out? No doubt, the anticipation we felt during our high school years tested us in various ways.

And then the biggest test of anticipation arrives. When your pulse rate explodes, and the fear of rejection is overwhelmed by your beating heart. When you begin to realize you want to share the rest of your life with someone you love. Will he ask me to marry him? Will she say yes? What if she says no? Funny how the level of doubt and rejection increases along with the level of anticipation. But, the rewards are much greater when we face these fears.

Then comes the granddaddy of anticipation. The one we have been preparing for our entire lives. Parenthood. The wonderful joy we feel at our child’s birth. And the scary realization that we now have to live this adventure of anticipation with them and through them. To help them overcome their doubts and fears and enjoy the lessons that anticipation brings.

Anticipation makes life worth living. And it doesn’t end when we are no longer on the earth. It just keeps getting more exciting along the way.

May the blessings be

Originally published on Medium.com

My First Date In 48 Years

Posted on December 6, 2023December 6, 2023 by Joe Merkle

It has been thirteen months since my wife died. I have been suffering different stages of grief for most of that time. Then about three weeks ago, a switch flipped within me. It became apparent that I would keep waking up each morning so I might as well try to join the living once more.

I kind of went crazy. I put my house up for sale this past Friday. It sold Saturday. Yeah, that fast. For 15K more than the list price. Fortunately for me, a neighbor just put her condo up for rent and I jumped on that. I still have no clue what I am doing with the rest of my life. But I figured I would jump on this crazy real estate market while it’s hot.

After a few years of retirement, I was bored out of my mind. I took a job at the local Home Depot until I quit to take care of Nancy. While working there I made new friends. I worked with Lila (not her real name) for two years in the same department. I’d like to think we were friends.

After some time she moved on and I had not seen her for about two years. Then one day recently I came across her working in Wal-Mart and we struck up a conversation. This occurred several times and we exchanged phone numbers so we could have uninterrupted conversations.

Last week another awakening occurred. I found my balls that had been missing for years. Who knew they were still between my legs? I called Lila. The conversation went something like this.

“Hi, Lila.”

“Hey, Joe.”

“I have a huge favor to ask you. Would you be my guinea pig and go out to dinner with me? I haven’t been out since Nancy died I have no idea what might happen when I walk into a restaurant. I may turn right around and leave. But, I am ready to try.”

A moment of silence on the other end. “Sure Joe. I would like that. Let’s just see what happens.”

Three days later was “date night.” I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride all day. I was fearful that I would just fall into grief again. And I was nervous to go on my first date in 48 years.

I picked Lila up at her home. As soon as she gets in the car I start to laugh. “What”, she says with a smile.

“I feel like a sixteen-year-old on a first date,” I say. We both have a good laugh.

Lila is a gabber. The girl can talk. I’m grateful for that at this moment. No pressure on me to act like a person.

We arrive at the restaurant. We enter. I don’t lose it. I am present. In the moment. I breathe. We have a great time and I take her to my place after dinner just so she knows where I live and can pop over when and if she likes.

We had a nice conversation. It was another eye-opening moment for me. How different a first date conversation is at the ages of 69 (me) and 59 than one we would have in our twenties. We’ve already been there, done that. Marriage (she has been divorced for 10 years) kids, and homes.

She told me that her marriage was mostly loveless. I could not imagine how hard it would be to stay in a marriage that long without love. It takes a strong person to persevere in those conditions. I know the children were an obvious factor in her decision to stay.

I told her how I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by love my entire life. And if there is one thing I am good at it is love. That brought a smile to her face.

At our age, we have reached the point where we can be somewhat selfish. Who knows where this will go. If anywhere. At least I am putting my toes into the water of life again. For the first time in years, I am excited to see if I still remember how to swim.

Through all this recent activity the most striking change in me is the immense spiritual enlightenment I have recently had. Living in a state of consciousness that every moment in the day is an opportunity to make someone else’s day a touch brighter. A smile. A good morning. A compliment. And even pets. I walk in the park every day and it seems every dog being walked comes right to me for a pet. It’s awesome. Loving moments to brighten my day.

To all my Medium family. Thank you for all you have done. You have been a very significant part of my healing process. I have no idea where I would be without you. Thank you for taking this journey with me and having my back in the darkest of times. My gratitude is boundless.

Originally published @ https://medium.com/know-thyself-heal-thyself/my-first-date-b0a070999ecb