CENTRAL CITY - If you have ever been set up on a blind date, or attended a singles function, you know the feeling. Butterflies fill your stomach and you might feel flushed and need a glass of water.
A room full of people experienced all of those feelings recently on a trip to Central City.
They were not nervous about losing money in the slot machines. But while this gamble had nothing to do with cash, it certainly involved a little luck, if not guts.
Rocky Mountain Singles organized a first time ever “Speed Dating” event at Fortune Valley for seniors.
For those who do not know what speed dating is, it is an opportunity for a group of single people to meet several people in a short period of time. Each person is assigned a number and moves around a room from table to table to meet several people in roughly an hour’s time.
Each date lasts just six minutes, enough time to hopefully decide if you want to meet again.
For this group, there is enough time for eight dates. There are 17 women and 13 men, from Denver, Greeley, Aurora, and as far as Montrose.
Joseph Brady is a Chinese medical doctor and a specialist in healthy aging. He applauds this type of thing.
“Anything to get people to make friends and have relationships, that makes a big difference when it comes to healthy aging,” Brady said.
The people in this group are keenly aware of the importance of meeting new people and staying engaged in life.
Carl traveled from Greeley to take part.
“Even if you just make a new friend, you don’t have to sit at home and be depressed,” he said.
Carl is an outdoorsy type who likes to hunt and fish, but when asked what a woman should know about him, he said, “I’m a good dancer.”
For many of the participants, this is a non-threatening environment and more like a social hour. Several told us they would never consider an Internet dating site, and really are not interested in a serious relationship.
Some say they will never marry again, but they would like the chance to go to dinner, dancing or even a movie with a new friend.
After their speed dating session, Rocky Mountain Singles will review the cards they filled out about their dates and match up those that express a mutual interest in seeing each other again.
What happens next? Only time will tell.
