I'm Laura Stasi, and this is Dating While Gray, the grown-ups guide to love, sex, and

relationships. It's the final episode of season four, and the final weeks of 2022. I tend to get a bit reflective this time of year,

and as I reflect, I seek inspiration.

I found some in the three stories for sharing on this episode,

Love Seekers and Keepers.

I'm a regular reader of the New York Times's tiny love stories.

That's the column where people submit essays of about 100 words.

And one tiny love story really stood out to me.

My name is Hunter, and I have lived in the Bay Area for about 30 years. I've been a nurse for 15. Hunter is the author of the tiny love story that caught

my eye. He wrote that after he turned 50, and with a string of romantic disappointments behind him,

he had given up on the idea he'd ever meet someone. And then he

randomly met this man. My name is John. I'm a chef by trade. I'm currently unemployed. I've

been in California for about 30 years. I kind of worked my way up and down the West Coast.

I tracked down Hunter and John to find out more, because you know how I love hearing about

chance meetings.

And surely theirs was actually much bigger than a tiny love story.

Thankfully, Hunter and John were willing to share.

I had been depressed for quite a long time.

I happened to be alone that Christmas.

And a friend from AA invited me to a Christmas party, and I went.

I made myself go.

And I met John for about 30 seconds.

...