Kids also learn from unfettered access to the internet, which it sounds like was a big factor in this case.

I listen to '60s Gold on SiriusXM!

Oh man, I just watched The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and absolutely loved it. It was everything I wanted in a Nic Cage movie.

It’s asking god to bless the people (“us”) and the food (“these thy gifts”) that they’re about to receive from his bounty via jesus

At least that’s how I understood it growing up, but who knows, I was just reciting it by rote as a kid and haven’t thought about it in years haha

Interesting, I learned it as “Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts”

Post-its and a power rack

Oh I haven’t seen house of dragons, is it good?

I’m starting a veggie garden! Cucumbers, green beans, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, basil, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries :)

Nice, enjoy! What are you watching?

I’m doing a bunch of housework today and then having my folks over on Sunday for Mother’s Day. It’s absolutely gorgeous out so I might try to get a little gardening in too :)

It’s not my favorite Friday ever - I had to have a colonoscopy this morning 😬 but afterward I had a huge breakfast and a 5 hour nap and I feel like a million bucks now!

Got anything good going on this weekend?

Hey friend! How’s your Friday going?

He can act but that movie was beyond stupid. I’m convinced the only reason it did well with critics is exactly what you said - they were surprised he could actually act.

I always had this impression that Colin Farrell was just a pretty boy with no acting talent. But then I saw him in Banshees of Inisherin and my mind was blown. He was amazing - his performance absolutely gutted me. If you’re willing to give him a try, you should watch that movie.

Rod Torfulson’s Armada Featuring Herman Menderchuck

Hey now, it was eight very strong questions!

Welp I don’t have children and it would be highly weird if I went around forcing other people’s kids to go play free-range so…

True, but kids aren’t free-range anymore the way they were when I was growing up in the '80s & '90s. It didn’t used to matter if you had a small backyard if you had a big neighborhood to roam. But from what I understand, kids aren’t allowed to just get on their bikes and go explore like they used to. Larger yards give kids a place to play, to get some fresh air and exercise instead of being indoors glued to a screen.

Ooh, ‘boil the billionaires’ has a nice ring to it

A couple of things:

1. I’m not the ‘park or embankment’ person, I was just using your response to that person to point out why cold-approaching someone for their digits is a bad idea.
2. I’m 43 and married, not sure why that should be relevant? Never meant to imply it was about you; I was using the ‘general you’.
3. The whole point is quality over quantity, which is why it’s in both parties’ interest to chat a bit first and see if there’s potential. It’s a small investment of time and effort to see if there’s anything there that’s worth pursuing. Some guys seem to think it’s a numbers game - that if you just shoot your shot (again, the general you) with a bunch of women, some percentage of them will land. That’s a recipe for frustration. I would never just give my number to a guy who asked for it out of the blue, and I’d reckon most women wouldn’t either.
4. You keep talking about limited locations, but I disagree that they’re limited. Look for women where people go to socialize - bars, live music, book clubs, hobby events (e.g., group hikes if you’re a hiker). And this is the perfect venue to casually chat with the woman and feel out the situation.

I don’t know what to tell you man. There are people all through this thread telling you it’s not as dire and impossible as you seem to think it is.

OP’s parents are in their sixties; they probably were born in the mid '50s to mid '60s and started dating in the '70s/'80s. Courtship probably didn’t factor in unless they’re Mormons or something.

Edit: I re-read and realized OP said his parents are almost 60, meaning almost definitely started their dating lives in the '80s.

If you walk up to random people in a cafe, park, or embankment (really?) and ask for their numbers

So I think this is the disconnect. This isn’t window shopping; you’re trying to connect with another human being. You need to take the time to talk with her, see if she shows interest by engaging and encouraging the conversation, and if there’s any commonality or chemistry between you.

Then, if you think there could be something there, offer to give your number rather than ask for hers. It will help her feel safer with you, and she can choose whether or not to accept and if she takes it, she can choose whether or not to follow up. It puts the onus on her to move things forward.