웨딩 칼럼

A call came in from a U.S. phone number.

I could sense that the man was quite elderly. He said he was 92.

After running a matchmaking company for many years, my thoughts about age have changed a great deal.

There was a time when I thought that after a certain age, whether man or woman, people no longer played a meaningful role in romantic relationships.

In the early 1990s, our membership standard was up to age 40 for men and up to age 37 for women.

As the years passed, I began to consult with many people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Now, a consultation for a 92-year-old man is no longer strange.

The man sent me his profile photos.

There were personal photos and family photos.

In the personal photo, he looked impressive in uniform, wearing medals.

He was someone who had received a medal in Korea.

The family photo was also striking.

It was probably from a birthday or family event.

More than 30 people, including his sons, grandchildren, grandchildren from his daughters’ side, and other family members, were gathered together.

He was seated in the center.

He was a widower whose wife had passed away less than ten years ago.

“How is your health?”

“I am healthy.”

“Where are you living now?”

“I live in a senior apartment.”

“I want to meet a woman who can drive for me.”

“Then the woman would probably need to be in her 70s.

And she would also need to be able to drive.”

“Is there anything you could offer the woman?”

This was his answer.

“She could take over the rental apartment I live in.”

Whether it is a man over 90 or a woman over 70, as long as they miss companionship and have the physical strength, they should be able to meet someone.

No, they should meet someone.

That kind of passion gives motivation to life.

It makes the blood feel young and even gives the skin a healthier glow.

The ideal type he described was extremely normal.

Since he was in his 90s, it was likely difficult for him to drive.

If he could have a girlfriend who could drive and go places with him, that was his dream.

I decided to look for someone who might be right for him.

However, I could not take a membership fee from him.

I sent messages to female members in their 60s and 70s, explaining his age and simple personal information.

The message said that if anyone was interested, I would try to arrange a meeting.

No one applied.

Then recently, a woman in her early to mid-70s joined.

While hosting a speed dating event in LA, I met her.

She was someone who had been quite active in LA in her own way.

Now she was retired and living well on the money she had saved.

She invited me to dinner, and we ate together at a high-end sashimi restaurant.

In my mind, I was thinking of that 92-year-old man.

During the conversation, I asked her:

“Do you know how to drive?”

“I drive very well.”

But as we continued talking, I could not bring up the story of the 92-year-old man any further.

Because she wanted to meet a younger man, or at least a healthy man only three or four years apart from her.

 

Woon Jin Lee

CEO, Couple.net