chat someone up in random places and situations and the result is usually very pleasant and we are both left laughing or smiling. I usually just make a comment on something we are both seeing or experiencing. Often it's an older person. They're usually pretty fun.

Good for your for brightening her day. And your own!

(As the Brits might say.)

I also do similar things, and yes, flirting is mandatory. As long as one smiles, it won't creep people out, I have found.

Good for you.

the less I take sex seriously, and feel freer to joke about it, within reason, of course. I compliment older people especially, as they don't get much attention.

A friend of mine and I were waiting to get a fountain drink out of one of those machines that seem to be popping up and a young black man stood aside and let us go first. 'Ladies first,' he said with a smile and we tittered. Another very old gentleman from Ethiopia working as a cashier at COSTCO, called both of us 'Young ladies,' and we giggled with glee. I'll see some little couple and we're looking for something and at times you'll see an old gent run to get what his wife needs. I'll say to her, 'That one's a keeper!' and the wife grins with pride.

Life is short. Neither of those two guys were serously trying to pick us up, or insulting, nor was I, for LOL, trying to pick any one up. We always help everyone that is older or slower or in any way confused. We have a lot of ladies who are petite and we reach for what they want. It doesn't hurt to give a little, and acknowledge we are all humans and frail. Just makes life a little bit more fun.

Some guy eyed me up and down today and smiled lecherously when he told me I looked all "slim, trim and tight." Did not make me feel like a sexual being. It made me feel uncomfortable, creeped out and gross.

I have a bunch of guys I fondly refer to as my fan club. I know them on sight, but don't know their names or anything about them other than that we are part of the same geographic community. We regularly flirt and, as near as I can tell, we all enjoy it - I know it brightened my days immensely through a really rough patch.

But the message I got, loud and clear, from the flirting was NOT "I think you're hot," but, "I'm glad to see you, and I care about you."

It isn't that there is an expiration date on sexual attraction or interest - but that I have no desire to be looked at as a sex object by someone I don't know - and that is the sense I get from the OP - that what the OP is feeling smug about was leaving the 80 year old woman with the impression that the motivation for being friendly was that she was sexually desirable. And if that motivation came through in the interaction (or in the flirting I engage in on a regular basis with my "fan club&quot it would have made me feel uncomfortable, creeped out, and gross.

I'm an old lady now myself & love to flirt or tease.

I have the most adorable radiologist-oncologist that I plan to kidnap one day. His nurses & I battle over him all the time. Did I mention he's adorable?

My mom was a huge flirt. When they'd ask if she had any allergies she'd nod & say "men, I get in trouble with them all the time!"

Anyway, I like to start chit chatting. It breaks the ice or the monotony & it turns out pretty nice.

I'm glad you brightened that woman's day. Her daughter seemed to be quickly defensive with the family's "I love you's". Kinda makes you wonder if daughter inadvertany makes mom feel like a burden.

-Laelth