Get the scoop, the whole scoop, and nothing but the scoop!

(Posted by Ron & Gayle)

We were recently interviewed by the relentlessly awesome Dixie Feldman who writes a blog for WETV.Com.  We’ll be sharing the interview in its entirety over the next few weeks.  Enjoy!

What are the benefits and challenges to a M-D marriage?

Gayle: For me one of the best benefits is grandchildren without having had to give birth or raise a pack of teenagers!   I know the family issues can be a challenge, but once you work through them there are just so many benefits.  Our holidays are insane with 4 married children and 12 grandchildren.  We never get to see them enough and that’s a challenge.  But there is never a lack of love and that’s a major benefit.  Let’s not forget that whole great sex thing!  An older man can set the bar pretty darn high.  So the challenge might be that you are ruined for future lovers.  I guess you could always take that knowledge with you, find a younger man, and mentor him – thus leaving the world in better shape than when you found it!

Ron: I’ve mentioned several already.  Their sexual relationship can be both a benefit or a challenge depending upon the age and/or health of the older partner.   Finances can also be a benefit or a challenge.  Many older men are already established in their careers and are financially secure.  On the other hand, many are coming out of divorces that have significantly damaged their financial stability and it may carry over into the new relationship.  Other benefits are the maturity of the older man.  His interest in being an active partner.  His ability to listen better than many younger men.  Challenges are the social stigma that is sometimes attached to these relationships.  Also, the potential for health issues with the older male as the marriage progresses.  Family issues are also often a problem.  Children and parents are sometimes very much against the relationship.

Stay tuned, more is coming. Don’t miss a word?  Subscribe to our RSS feed now.  And while you’re at it, leave us a comment – we’d love to hear what you have to say!

More of the scoop, the whole scoop, and nothing but the scoop!

(Posted by Ron & Gayle)

We were recently interviewed by the relentlessly awesome Dixie Feldman who writes a blog for WETV.Com.  We’ll be sharing the interview in its entirety over the next few weeks.  Enjoy!

Any red flags she should look out for?

Gayle: Maturity, maturity, maturity.  It’s never a great idea to try a long term relationship with someone who is immature for his age.  If you are 30 and he is 50, let’s hope you aren’t compatible just because he never grew up and acts much younger than he really is.  A bad boy might be fun for a few nights, but seriously you won’t enjoy it when his buddies or golf game are more important than you.  As for those younger men, well I’d want to know that he was over being “mama’s boy” and that he could support himself with or without me.  Come to think of it those last two items are good rules of thumb no matter what his age!

Ron: She should be aware of why he is divorced, if in fact he is.  Regardless of their ages it’s a good idea to know something about a potential partner’s previous marital history just in case there are some relationship problems that might carry into their life.  Why is he with her?  Is it because he loves her or is it for his ego.  Although it doesn’t seem to be as prevalent as society believes, there are trophy wives.  She doesn’t want to be one.  Does he have financial or addiction problems that will make their relationship difficult, at best?  If she wants a family she should have some idea of his feelings about that before getting into the relationship too deeply.

Stay tuned, more is coming. Don’t miss a word.  Subscribe to our RSS feed now.  And while you’re at it, leave us a comment – we’d love to hear what you have to say!

The libation of choice for New Years in Rainelle, West Virginia

(Posted by Ron)

As you may or may not know, I went to work for a large accounting firm when I graduated from college.  I learned a year or so into the job that one of the reasons I was hired was because a significant client in West Virginia was not happy with all of the “Yankees” that were being sent from Pittsburgh to do the audit.  Enter Ron, barely out of West Virginia and still speaking the language.  The job was in Rainelle, a little town about 60 miles from the capital, Charleston.  There wasn’t a really nice place to stay in Rainelle so we drove about 25 miles through the mountains each day so we could stay at a nice state park lodge. Read the rest of this entry »

What size is yours?

(Posted by Ron)

Have you ever heard anyone say “my cup runneth over?”  It usually has a Biblical connotation representing an overflowing of blessings. In my work with couples, however, I’ve found it to be a good metaphor for how we use anger. Assume you and your partner are arguing about something minor that just happened. All at once you are being bombarded with anger about things that happened yesterday, or last week, or last month. Well, you may have been “anger cupped.” Read the rest of this entry »

Well, I am in Texas, after all, even if it is below freezing.

(Posted by Ron)

It’s one of my least favorite times in Texas (or anywhere else for that matter.)  It’s winter.  It’s cold.  And it’s not even snowing.  Of course, if it was, I would sit inside and watch it.  After all, snow is cold, too!  Do you get the idea?  I like being where it’s warm and cozy even though I didn’t grow up that way.  The Earnest part of me enjoyed cold weather and snow.  I can remember coming inside after hours in the snow.  My clothes would be stiff with ice and I would still be laughing.  I wonder when I let that all change.

Anyway, this post is another guest post by Earnest D. Cember.  I like bringing him in whenever I feel my inner child stirring.  He seems to understand that feeling.  This post comes from his website and was posted in November.  Enjoy!

Read the rest of this entry »