Baby Boomers on Blind Dates
Netflix's The Later Daters, A Snarky Little Cookie Exchange, and A Christmas Movie Dedication
Netflix’s The Later Daters follows six baby boomers navigating modern-day dating in the platform’s newest docuseries. My first impressions told me this was a show produced to turn heads and raise eyebrows. Can you blame me? The concept alone is…something. And I genuinely wanted to see baby boomers wade through the communication woes of online dating, texting, and Facetime. Would they “ghost” one another? Would they be in it for just the hookups?
Yet, as I wrapped up the last episode, I found something I wasn’t expecting—a warm, fuzzy feeling. The Later Daters isn’t like every other reality dating flop. It’s a show about the ageless and endless pursuit of love.
Yes, I got my fill of baby boomers battling technology. Facetime and Snapchat are part of the digital dating landscape. This was inevitable. However, I will say that the participants adapted well to the technological challenges and embraced the obstacles of finding love in the 21st century.
But not necessarily without the help of Logan Ury, a Harvard graduate who began her career in behavior science and found her niche in romantic relationships to help those who can’t seem to catch a break in the dating field. As the Director of Relationship Science at the popular online dating app Hinge, and author of the bestseller How Not to Die Alone, Ury helps the participants “date smarter.”
And I’ll admit that some needed more help than others. At one point in the show, Ury sits down with one of the participants, encouraging him to reach out to one of his successful dates, but he becomes hesitant over the physical distance between their living situations. Ury then asks, “Are you really going to let metro traffic get in the way of finding love?” To this, he couldn’t have jumped in any faster, “I will.”
Fair enough, sir.
This was a common theme in the show. With so many years under their belts, it’s hard for some to abandon routine. Some participants were willing to accept change, and some were more rigid than a steel beam. When faced with this obstacle, Ury encouraged them to practice a willingness to compromise and to share their vulnerability on the first date to build that initial trust. After all, compromise and honesty are a part of dating so they weren’t going to get very far without these traits.
As much as we can chuckle at their stubbornness, I think there’s something beautiful about their rigidity. They have less tolerance for the B.S. that comes with dating and they possess a straightforwardness about what they want and need. To me, they are responsible daters.
But no matter their willingness to dive into the deep end, we all know that dating is messy. People have baggage, and identifying the red and green flags is all part of the game. The prize? Love. And the participation ribbon? You can always learn something.
A Snarky Little Cookie Exchange
In honor of the centuries-old tradition of sharing (and judging) your neighbors’ and coworkers’ cooking, I’ve narrowed down a festive list of the most common and seasonally relevant cookies for your cookie exchange. Flour, butter, and eggs are too expensive to waste your time baking cookies that aren’t actually Christmas cookies and won’t be touched with a thirty-nine-and-a-half-foot pole. This is the year we thrive at the cookie exchange. It’s time to bring your A-game, Doris! Eat…or be eaten.
Frosted Sugar Cookies
This tells me you like a holiday staple. They’re a blank canvas for your creativity to run wild. But execution is not as easy as it seems. First, do not add sprinkles strong enough to crack a molar. Second, maybe don’t let your children decorate unless it’s a family get-together (the little ones like glitter sprinkles and you’ll be fishing it out of your hair until New Year’s). Third, do not brag that your family has the best sugar cookie recipe when it turns to concrete while chewing. A good sugar cookie does not need milk. Now repeat that five more times.
Gingerbread Cookies
This tells me you like some spice and are unafraid to show it. But there is a hefty battle ahead. You’ll get caught in the line of fire of those who prefer soft gingerbread and those who prefer hard gingerbread. This cookie will never get full approval at the party. But if you’re confident in who you are and don't care that Brenda prefers the hard ones (pun 100% intended), this is the cookie for you.
Snickerdoodles
This tells me you like something easy, but something classic. Just don’t forget to put cream of tartar on the shopping list. It’s easy to miss and you’ll be cursing yourself while elbow-deep and fishing out dough balls from the Kitchen Aid mixer. Because according to the snobs, and I guarantee there will be snobs at your get-together, a snickerdoodle is not a real snickerdoodle without cream of tartar. This is a safe bet for success but read the fine print.
Pinwheels
This tells me you’re all about the vibes. But I’ve got to be honest. I’ve never had a delicious pinwheel. They’re beautifully festive and fun, but I won’t eat them. They will be the last ones on that table, basking in their colorful hues as they become the lone survivors of the night. So, let’s face the music and call a spade a spade. They’re décor.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
This tells me you tend to cave into peer pressure. This is not a Christmas cookie, but according to the rest of the United States…it is the most popular. I will die on my hill, alone probably.
M&M Cookies
This tells me you’re a people pleaser. Not to mention that this pretty tasty recipe is conveniently displayed on the back of the M&M bag. It’s an easy win at the cookie exchange. Yet here’s the caveat. You can only use the red and green M&Ms. Any other color, and you’ve failed the assignment.
Chocolate Chip
This tells me the holiday blues got you down and your last resort was to buy a tub of Nestlé Tollhouse cookie dough. I can sympathize with the stresses, I really can. But I hate to say that a chocolate chip cookie will never be a Christmas cookie. Its deliciousness is reserved for the other eleven months of the year. Accept the loss and pack up the Tupperware. Bring back this blessed little cookie in January when everyone else commits to kale.
A SLIGHTLY SOUR Christmas Movie Dedication
Picture this. You’re cozying up by the fire and inevitably turn on your television or phone. Oh, man. What do you watch? You could spend thirty minutes scrolling and asking your spouse what they want to watch. Or you can skip that part and hop onto this fantastic publication because I curated a list of holiday movies for each of you.
For the Stubborn Mule: A Christmas Story (1983), Elf (2003), The Polar Express (2004), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
For the Scrooge: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), Christmas with the Kranks (2004), Last Christmas (2019), Scrooged (1988), A Christmas Carol (2009)
For the Hopeless Romantic: The Holiday (2006), Love Actually (2023), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Holidate (2020), Love Hard (2021), Happiest Season (2020), Last Holiday (2006)
For the Meat Head: Die Hard (1988), Violent Night (2022), Carry-On (2024)
For the Dysfunctional Family Member: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), A Bad Mom’s Christmas (2017), Home Alone (1990), Four Christmases (2008), The Family Stone (2005)
For the Nerd: The Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special (2022)
For the Eclectic Soul: Feast of the Seven Fishes (2018), Love the Coopers (2015)
Welcome to the party, pal
Kat