Joan Vassos (61, Maryland) captured the hearts of many when she self-eliminated on “ABC’s” first season of “The Golden Bachelor” to “be a mom,”, following a phone call in which she learned her daughter had postpartum depression. A widowed school administrator who puts her family first, one is left to wonder what could have been with Bachelor Gerry Turner (73, Indiana), especially now that he has separated from his final pick, Theresa Nist (70, New Jersey). However, Vassos is taking on the role of the first Golden Bachelorette, and she’s insistent she’ll be remaining in Maryland regardless of how her televised love story pans out. Any possibility of a reconciliation with Turner is highly unlikely, as Turner and Nist separated because neither were willing to relocate.
Vassos’ journey to find love on “The Golden Bachelorette” premiered last Wednesday night, and she was immediately swooned by Pascal (69, Illinois), a Frenchman (“weren’t we all?”). Although, that didn’t keep her from noticing the 23 other men who came to meet her. Some memorable bachelors include a retired Navy captain (Kim, 69/Washington), an emergency room doctor (Guy, 66/Nevada) and a proud “girl dad” (Keith, 62/California). Besides 57-year-old Mark (Army veteran and father of Kelsey A., “The Bachelor” season 28 winner), all 24 contestants are either over the age of 60 or pushing 70.
Unfortunately, Pablo (63, Maryland) may be the only relevant prospect this season if Vassos holds true to her promise to stay in her home state. That is unless the rest of the cast is willing to relocate for her. While it is common among younger bachelorette contestants to relocate at the end of a successful season, there are greater obstacles to this for our older contestants. Many of Vassos’ men, like the women in Gerry’s season, have children. Some even have grandchildren for that matter. How does one pick all of that up and move for a relationship that is statistically 0 for 1??
Even more difficult to navigate this season will be the discussion of past relationships. In contrast to “The Bachelorette,” many of Vassos’ suitors have previously experienced the love of a lifetime. Turner famously proceeded his season with a phrase similar to “How special would it be to fall in love twice?” Some people struggle to find love once, even more so twice. Additionally, Vassos and her suitors won’t try to be the “one,” but rather surpass the “one”! These considerations set the stage for Vassos and/or multiple suitors to battle feelings of not being good enough throughout the larger half of the season.
It’s hard to say if Vassos will find the love she’s looking for on her season of “The Golden Bachelorette,” but for those curious to know how the journey ends–whether happily or not–continue to tune into “ABC” on Wednesday nights at 8/7c. If all else fails, Vassos might still have a chance to find love on the rumored “Golden Bachelor in Paradise” spinoff. Better yet, since 60 is the new 40, that might barely be a 10-year age gap on “Bachelor in Paradise,” slated to return in 2025. Whatever the future holds, Vassos’ golden years have just begun.