When Were Those Confirmation Hearings?

My sister lives on a cul-de-sac. I was in the front yard with her son. A man was walking his dog and this young man volunteered "This is my mom's brother. He has never been married."

Did a man walking his dog need to know this? Children are not good with secrets. Would he think differently of me if I were divorced or widowed? I never got married because no one asked.

I knew I forgot something. Relationships never fell that way. When I moved to Arizona my father said "Maybe you'll meet a woman and get married." Shouldn't there be something between those eventualities? He was known for describing the finished product without mentioning the process.

It sounded like I would put my right hand to introduce myself and in my left hand would be an engagement ring. How would I know her ring size? The fantasies of adults and reality of my life are two different things.

I "Retired" to Arizona. At least I retired from my longest tenured job. After a few months of fooling around- I may be good at saving money. I also have to make money.

A bank account is finite. finding a job with relative ease after a false start in telemarketing- selling long distance plans sounds antiquated at this time. I don't like pep rallies and they treated the job like that with no cheerleaders.

Sound and fury signifying nothing did not lead to a future. The next position was in collections. My motivation was to help others clear out debt. The job started out well.

The training class had a good group. Two worked together previously. It was at a collection agency where they would send people home if they made no collections before lunch.

A lot of people are not home. They should have been able to play all four quarters. It did not seem fair. This company was better. Scott was religious and friendly. PJ was similar and looked like Sigourney Weaver.

She was in a marriage that was coming to a close. It was her third. I'll do her justice in the next article. She referred to me as a "Confirmed Bachelor." Not the branding I really wanted.

I never looked to get married. Relationships were few and far between. The last thing I wanted was a Thelma and Louise relationship. "You get what you settle for."

Had I stayed with the first woman who said yes; that would not have lasted. I would have worked at any relationship just like I work to stay on a job as long as possible.

Some roads are longer than others. At this point a relationship would be an alternative lifestyle. I could not envision a partnership. Nice work if you can get it. Right now I have no prospects. Dating sites are fraud.

They are more fraudulent for women. That's not right. Is it better to be an alleged "Confirmed bachelor" or thrice divorced? I never knew the whole story. What she explained to me- I don't think she had the problem.

The End of When Were Those Confirmation Hearings?

Thomas Jackson Will Return in Penny's Story