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Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
INTEGRITY:
Each year the editors at Merriam-Webster Dictionary
make a list of the past year's 10 most looked up
words. I will work backwards; 10=Inept 9=Levee,
8=Conclave, 7=Pandemic, 6=Tsunami, 5=Insipid,
4=Filibuster, 3=Contempt, 2=Refugee. And number 1=
INTEGRITY. The folks at Merriam say "This gives us
insight into the country's collective concern about its
values."
I thought this interesting because most of us can
give a definition for the word integrity. Merriam's is--
Firm adherence to a code, especially moral or artistic
values; incorruptibility.
I found this extra interesting because if I could give
a one word description of integrity, I would say
honesty. At least that's my personal opinion. As
discussed in these Newsletters before, honesty, is by
far, BY FAR; the number one characteristic women
have told me they look for in a man.
I'm not smart enough to try to figure out all of this,
but I do know that if so many Americans are looking
up a word they are familiar with, then this is a good
thing, meaning there is some confusion going on in
our lives. Be it the horrible scandals of Enron,
Worldcom, etc., or a decline in family values, or
questions about our overseas and domestic policies,
and the personal vicissitudes of both Democrats and
Republicans alike. I favor anything that results in
good, honest debate. To bring issues to the fore,
rather than let them smolder. It will be interesting to
see what the future year's hold for the most looked
up word.
Please do not misunderstand me, I'm not preaching.
I'm not in a position where I should preach, as I have
made my share of mistakes. However, I believe
anybody who really knows me, will tell you that I
have always tried to act with integrity, in my
personal life as well as my business life, and have
been as honest as I am capable of being.
For what I refer to as "The Senior Bachelor Endeavor"
I have always done my best to act with integrity.
Because it is the right thing to do, not just to be
politically correct. Also, let's face it, without the
liftoff by Miss Oprah and her wonderful Producers,
Senior Bachelor never would have had the worldwide
appeal and exposure it has received. And I believe if
people had to use one word to describe The Oprah
Winfrey Show, the Producers, and Oprah herself, it
would be- integrity.
I have been enormously impressed, and grateful, that
Vicki and Gael, and I presume Lori, Vija and Cindee
are all on the same wavelength.The five ladies have
lots of contact back and forth via e-mail, and it has
been great to see there has not been any cattiness
or indications of competitiveness. It is my view that
all of us believe that this is a great, albeit unusual,
way to really, REALLY get to know one another
without, OK, sex possibly blurring any of the feelings
and emotions. I think this is the way dating is
supposed to be. I was really happy to be told by
Vicki and Gael that the 5 ladies have formed kind of a
sisterhood, and that they have vowed to respect not
only themselves, but each other by keeping at arms
length. Now this really made things easier for me,
because, well, I am a man, and these are very
attractive, and sexy ladies!! And I am in, kind of, a,
shall we say, "vulnerable" condition-ha ha.
Please don't take the following as "corny" because it
is 100% from my heart. I kind of feel I am
representing men in general, and that my behavior on
this Journey, my acting with (there's that word
again) integrity, just might restore some Hope, Faith
and Inspiration in women who feel wronged in the
past by men. If I can go around the world for 6
months, to many romantic places, with 5 terrific
women, and not try to take advantage of the
situation, this could be a message to women that
there are some good guys out there, and they may
want to "get back in the game" so to speak.
POSSIBLE FOLLOW UP ON THE OPRAH WINFREY
SHOW:
I get many e-mails every week from people asking
when there will be a follow-up on TOWS. It is true
that Oprah said at the very end of the segment in
which I appeared with her that she would keep
everyone updated about this endeavor, but returning
for a follow up is not a given. In fact, the Show has
so many worthy shows, that a possible follow up is
only a possibility. I have been in touch with the
Producers, and we have been close, but a good fit
for a show has not presented itself as of today.
Many people have asked why I am also having
everything filmed by Umberto Zappa. The answer has
been, and remains, that I do not have any deal with
anybody for a Documentary film, ala POP&ME, or any
kind of a television deal for a show or shows. When I
made my proposal to the Oprah Producers for Senior
Bachelor, I promised I would have a cameraman with
me all of the time, including during the Search and
Selection process, and that I would film everything in
High-Definition. If and when The Oprah Winfrey Show
decided they would like to do a follow up, I have
extensive footage of everything. And, I might very
immodestly add, it is very good footage. I do hope to
be invited back on Oprah's Show, and I will keep you
up to date if and when this might occur.
Richard Roe Senior Bachelor
Click here to see more photos from our Journey!
Mon. Jan 2, 2006-- It doesn't seem possible!! Today
Richard, Umberto, Severo and
I went to Alto Los Condes- better known as the
MALL! Severo ( Umberto's Argentinian
friend), was looking for an iPod and it was books for
me. I was surprised
that Richard was so up for it as I remember his
notation at MB
saying, "Richard doesn't DO shopping!" Richard and I
walked to the
International Bookstore and I scored. Back at the
mall we went into all the
hiking/camping places. R likes to keep up on all of the
new STUFF. Just
before sunset we went to Mt. Cristobal- which also
was just in time to see
them close!
So we went to dinner at a little local place just below
the
monument, called The Venenzia. If anyone reading
this has ever been to The
Venenzia, on the Cambridge/Dorchester, MA. line, let
me tell you- what a
HOOT!!! I'd love to send them a pic of of THIS one!!!
The food was OK, but
not as good as we have gotten used to.
Tues. R, U and I went back to Mt.
Cristobal- at 10:30 am. We took the funicular up 1/2
way to see the zoo. (Click
here to see the photos.)
YEAH! Much bigger than we expected, very diverse
and the animals looked in
good care!! Fun! Then, up to the top! Just at the
foot of the stairs leading
to the Statue of the Virgin, was racks of candles and
mementos hung on the
walls. Newborn baby hats, pictures, cards and all
sorts of things for people
who had survived and for others who didn't.
Heartwrenching, even with the
language barrier. The statue was HUGE and beautiful.
Down we went by
cable car and back home.
R and I decided we'd go to dinner at our
favorite place so far, Isla Negra (Black Island)
Restaurant. Then to
Fragola's for our after dinner treat- Italian ice cream.
Yummy. At 9AM Michelle (another friend of
Umberto's from Guatamela), Severo and I (Richard
and Umberto had work to do) went to the town of
Isla Negra to see the unique home and property of a
world famous
poet, Pablo Neruda. The interior was designed as if it
were a ship!
Wonderful to see with all his unusual collections. The
property was a
precipice overlooking the crashing, pounding sea.
Neruda loved the ocean but was afraid of it! Neruda
surrounded himself with all the trappings of the
sea but considered himself, The Captain of the Land.
I was
so glad I got to see it and enjoy the day.
Thurs. Severo offered to take me
to the mall (silly boy). I needed a pair of jeans. They
were having a buy one
get one free sale, so it was HELL! Severo was very
patient and we got the
stuff and got OUT! Back home I realized I had left a
bag at the
store!!I NOT a happy girl! I took a taxi back and
retrieved my new purchase.
Fri. we had a 2 1/2 hour flight to the desert in
northern Chile at 5AM. Arrived at 9AM and
found a very local place to stay right in the center of
San Pedro, about a (terrific) one hour ride from the
airport. The
restaurant/bar was in the middle and all the rooms
were on the perimeter.
Veeeery interesting. All I was hoping for was some
sleep! Oh well.
3:30PM and
off to hike the Desert of Atacama, the driest in the
world, for 5 hours!!!!!
So much for the nap. We hiked Death
Valley, Moon Valley and ? Valley. R said he was in
heaven! Personally, I
donīt expect heaven to be that HOT! But there was
no debating the incredible beauty of it all. We even
ran down two HUMONGOUS sand dunes!!
The moving of
the earth's plates, (because of dryness), creates
shapes and forms that
don't look real. More like SURREAL!!
Back to El Garrobo at 9:30PM. I skipped
dinner because the only thing I was interested in was
a shower! A COLD
shower wasn't really what I had in mind, but, it still
got most of the
10+lbs. of sand off me! Bed felt great-- except for
those DRUMS! I was
laying there hoping R was still feeling he was in
heaven! Sat. we lounged
for the morning. R had decided the El Garrobo had a
little too much local color, so
we found The San Pedro De Atacama. When we
entered the lobby it was
air conditioned, (you had me at hello), and you see a
HUGE SWIMMING POOL through
the french doors of the dining room- need I say
more!?! Yipee! R decided it
was perfect! Toss the stuff in our LUXURY room and
off to our 2PM tour.
R had hired a driver to take us to the lakes. On the
way the driver dropped off
food to his mother. What luck for us! Maria Louisa
looked like she stepped
from the pages of a history book! She was absolutely
beautiful.
Her home was on part of an oasis, smack dab in the
middle of the desert, with a little stream running
through it.
A tiny stone house with her glorious gardens and a
stone pen of some sort.
Maria Louisa was putting thorny branches over the
top of it for both shade
and protection. She protecting her rabbits!! She
invited us into her home to
show us things she had made from alpaca. Of course
I bought something. How
could you NOT???
Back on the road and heading to the Lagunes we
passed
Huanacos. They are similar to llamas. The first lake in
the National Park,
was nestled among the Andes Mts. Fresh water with
a bed of salt! Neat!
Off
again to Laguna Chaxa. This lake was surrounded by
a landscape of
salt/mineral crystals for miles and miles. No flat
surfaces ANYWHERE!!! IN
the lake were flocks of flamingo. How magnificent!!
We stayed to watch the
sunset which gave U enough time to get some
spectacular photos. You'll love
them!!
Back for dinner in San Pedro at Cafe' Adobe. U had
eaten there before
and it was great food and atmosphere. We walked in
to a live local band
performing in front of an open pit of fire! The ceiling
over the fire was
open and all of the tables were arranged around it. It
was cool enough to
enjoy the fire and the music.
R and I had a pisco
sour (national drink) with dinner, and then off
to the hotel and a much needed shower- HOT
shower- lovely!!!
Sun. we hung
out at our luxurious hotel, mostly. U and I did a little
video, R did a
little Internet and I did a little gift shopping. I also
got very lucky and
saw a local parade! Beautiful and strange costumes
and dancing. I wish I
understood its meaning.
3:30PM and off to the airport and back to
Santiago-- home again, home again, jiggity jig!!
Gael
Wow! One of the finalists really knows how to party! She is bringing along no fewer than 12 of her friends on the cruise this summer! I exchanged emails with Shawn, our Personal Cruise Consultant, and she wants me to remind you that these two cruises are in the "peak" of the Alaska cruising season. They are very popular in their own right- much less with the added attraction of having us party-ers on board! So please start checking your travel calendar and, if you think there is a chance you want to go, contact her ASAP. Your deposit goes directly to Holland America Lines and is completely refundable up to 75 days before the cruise.
For information about the Senior Bachelor Cruise, click here! Remember to send me an email at Richard@seniorbachelor.com if you need a cruise cabin mate to save the single supplement. We've already matched up a whole bunch of people and I will be able to help you even while on the Journey. Or you can contact our Personal Cruise Consultant, Shawn, at Shawn@seniorbachelor.com or call 1-800-355-3017 Ext. 4294 Mon- Fri, 9:00AM to 6:00PM, PST. To submit the Online Cruise Booking Form, click here!
I love hearing from you about your experiences with PerfectMatch! I share them only with the writer's permission- usually given enthusiastically because they are excited to share their success. Fits nicely with our New Year's Resolution theme: From Connie in Canada: Hi Richard, Have been keeping in tune with the travels of you and the others senior bachelor girls and Umberto. It is my pleasure to wish all of you a happy Holiday and I can sympathize with your missing your 7 grandchildren. I am about to embark on my journey to northern Canada and then Tucson to visit my family. The greatest news- I have met the "perfect match" on PerfectMatch. Having been leery of these dating sites and had 2 terrible experiences, I tried PerfectMatch figuring Dr. Phil and you support it and then was on a flight recently and saw the movie 'Must like dogs'- I joined up. Norton was the only person who appealed to me and since Nov.29th-- we have come to know one another and also families have met and I who love animals- he has 2 horses, 3 dogs and a cat! I have a precious cat also. Good luck-- will stay tuned in. Cheers, Connie Ladies and Gentlemen, many of you have taken the free PerfectMatch Compatibility Profile to learn more about themselves to get better prepared to meet and date. You should try it out, too. One of the criteria for the 22 Finalists was to take the Free Compatibility Profile and I used the results in making my decisions. I did take the Free PerfectMatch Compatibility Profile, and it described me to a "T." It was simple and took less than 15 minutes. Of course, the proof is in the pudding, and only time will tell how this service works for you. My recommendation is to take the Free Compatibility Profile (click here to try it), and if you like what you see with the Profile results, and your budget can afford it, give it a try, and then later tell me your feelings. Good luck. We all are looking for our Perfect Match!!! Many people have asked about our association with PerfectMatch. After seeing Duane Dahl, the founder of PerfectMatch on Dr. Phil this past June, and doing some research, we felt this was a company we would like to start an association with to see what kind of results they might provide. I know from working with the Oprah folks how careful they are to research their guests, as does Dr. Phil, and this encouraged me. (Photo courtesy of "Merry Mary".) From Linda- "You asked for feedback regarding PerfectMatch. I have subscribed to several online relationship sites with varying amounts of success. However, I believe PerfectMatch has combined the most succinct and efficient program available for those of us with the mature status. Not only is help readily available if needed, the site navigation is seamless. I believe the questionnaires are very well done and if participants answer truthfully, the potential for finding the "perfect match" is excellent." From a reader in Georgia- "I never desired nor felt the need to join a dating service. On a lark, I decided to try the free personality profile with PerfectMatch. I was floored and amazed how right on they were on about me."
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