This is Dating While Gray, the grown-ups guide to love sex and relationships.

I'm Laura Stasi.

And you might think that I have no trouble approaching anyone to talk about anything.

Is sexual intimacy important to you? I think it's, you know, I think it's the wrong

question. I would hope that there's no man in my life who can't remember, like, how he met me,

or what made him, you know, the spark. That's strike one.

Keep pitching.

Turn that microphone off.

But you would be wrong.

When it comes to my personal life, I have trouble chatting up strangers.

Here's an example of why I need help with my personal conversational skills.

Back in the fall, I went to my nephew's wedding in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park.

That Saturday morning was sunny in the 50s, perfect jogging weather. So I laced up my shoes and made a four-mile loop past cute little shops and down wide tree-lined streets with prairie-style homes.

When I finished my run in front of a bakery, I was feeling good. I went inside to get a cup of coffee to take back to my

hotel room. And as I'm waiting, I glance out the picture window and see a group of men on bicycles.

They come to a stop at the sidewalk cafe tables right out front. And as they take off their helmets,

I can see they're older.

They have gray hair, I have gray hair.

They're in workout clothes, I am too, endorphins are flowing.

It feels like an opportunity to meet new people has just presented itself.

I could ask them to recommend a different route for my run tomorrow,

or do they have any suggestions about what I should see or do before I leave town? I could even mention I have a podcast,

...