Gottcha....and I commend you for following your instincts/heart. I didn't realize it was over. Not that it should be...I wasn't saying that. I was only looking at the fact that I felt you really weren't interested in HIM but the things that he represented in your mind (i.e., the gentleman ways, his politeness, etc) and that these were things you were really looking for, things that pleased you in a man, but you really weren't interested in HIM. So forgive me for not making myself clear on that.

I will add that if my 24-year old son was interested in a 48 year old woman, I would be devastated. Not because she couldn't be the most fabulous woman alive, but because I would want him to have a partner that could share things on his same level of maturity, see things through a 24 year olds eyes and heart, and grow in those experiences with him, NOT speed them up for him. Does that make sense?

You are way ahead of a lot of single women in that you know what you want AND in some respects, what you don't want. Age is like everything else, it does have some boundaries obviously; otherwise we would all be deliquents. However, it shouldn't be about age, but about the people involved.

Do you think perhaps the age thing bothers YOU inside more than him? If so, why do you think it does? Oh and bravo for keeping the friendship intact! Wuhoo!

Just go ahead and shoot me, but I want to add one more tidbit. In my dating years, I found that once you shared that kiss, you could never go back to "just friends." I hope this isn't your experience as well because it sounds like a very good friendship!