Cindy and I are getting married May 27th, at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, and we met thanks to JDate!

I had recently come out of a relationship and rejoined JDate (which I had used in the past). My second day on the site, I got an e-mail, opened it up and found a photo of the Grateful Dead; a beautiful girl “Photoshopped” in with the band. A die-hard Deadhead for over 40 years, I immediately wrote back and, after sharing a couple of quick e-mails, we spoke on the phone and began to discover how much we had in common.

We were the same age (OK I’m 10 months older), grew up less than 10 miles from each other on Long Island, and even attended the same college, at the same time: SUNY New Paltz! Cindy has two children, and I have one and, because all were in college, we were both looking for someone to share the rest of our lives with.

The weekend after we “met” online and over the phone, I was going to NYC with my daughter for a Chanukah Daddy/Daughter trip. I spoke to Cindy and we agreed to get together when I got back. On Sunday, my daughter asked if she could stay in the city for an extra couple of days with friends, and I agreed. I called Cindy, told her I was coming home that Sunday evening and asked if she could meet me for a drink. She agreed and I got to the appointed spot and waited for her arrival over a martini, excited yet equally nervous as I watched the door for her arrival. In she walked, and I was immediately smitten. We talked and laughed and discovered quickly how much we had in common. We both had work the next morning, so it was time to leave, and we both agreed to get together again on Tuesday. That was December 15^th, 2009, and we have been inseparable since! The night we met was so magical that, when we sat down at the same bar six months later, the bartender remembered us from the night we met; I guess he saw the sparks fly, too! 

Ten months later, on Thanksgiving, our home filled with 24 members of our combined families, I proposed. Cindy cried, but did say YES! Our families, friends, children and everyone we meet are so happy for us and can immediately see how perfect we are together. Whoever thought that at 55 years old, I could find the perfect woman for me; someone that I truly look forward to growing old with!

We were planning a small wedding but there is so much love and happiness around us that we wanted to share our joy; it has now grown into quite the celebration. The morning after, we are leaving on a “family-moon” cruise with our kids, my parents and sister; ALL so excited to start this new chapter in our lives.

THANK YOU JDATE ! 

Cindy and Ira
Boca Raton, Florida