Staying Fit
(Left to right) Sandra, 75, a retired executive assistant from Doraville, Georgia; Susan, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania; Ellen, 71, a retired teacher from Delray Beach, Florida.
Ricky Middlesworth/ABC (3)
The Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner, 72, is one of the only TV stars in Hollywood who dates multiple women and is upfront about it. Three women he liked but rejected tell AARP how they deeply feel about him, the show and their future in romance — and, they hope, a spin-off show!
Susan, 66, sounds off on grownup romance and gas without shame
John Fleenor/Disney
Susan, you’re a wedding officiant and hair and makeup expert. How would you feel about officiating Gerry’s wedding, and doing hair and makeup for the bride?
I would love it! I already offered. And if you decide you’re getting married, I’m your girl. When I helped [fellow Golden Bachelor contestant] Theresa for her first date, she was trying to tell me how to curl, and I said, “Can you just trust me? I’ve been doing this for 38 years!”
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
Like the Oscars, The Golden Bachelor is a drama about anguish and triumph. But how do you have fun and romantic anguish at the same time?
So that’s who I am as a person. I was my true authentic self. I like to make people smile. I am a girls’ girl. I never meet a stranger. So when it’s gettin’ gloomy or somethin’s going on, you just lighten up the mood, you know? Cook a good meal and everybody forgets.
And for the record, it was not your own cooking that gave you the gas problem the girls complained about.
It was not the meatballs!
Do you agree with Benjamin Franklin, who actually said, “Fart proudly?”
Fart proudly! Yeah, absolutely! We all do it. But the problem for me was I hadn’t gone in a lot of days and then that delicious guacamole was so good I made a little pig of myself.
I hear you want to do a spin-off show.
We are the ASKN Crew — that’s April, Susan, Kathy [another contestant who went home roseless] and Nancy — and we need the modern day Golden Girls. I’m telling you it will be a hit. We have four separate personalities and we’re all fun.
What is Gerry like, and what is his type? What does this guy want?
He’s a big-hearted Midwestern gentleman. He is always paying attention and present. Those beautiful blue eyes, I get it, everybody gets lost in them — but he’s really a kind soul. He shows emotion.
I feel as if Gerry, what he did best with was not such a strong personality. Some of us, including me, I have a big personality. And I think he likes somebody that just falls in love with him and looks at him and follows him around. You know what I mean? Not someone that takes the bull by the horns, like me. Not that we weren’t friends — we were in the friend zone, we love each other and I’ll be his friend forever. Because we have a bond.
You know, sometimes there’s more chemistry, sometimes it’s just a friendship.
More From AARP
Meet the Women 'The Golden Bachelor' Will Court
How will reality star Gerry Turner, 72, ever decide on one?
Women Who Lost on ‘The Golden Bachelor’ Say They Have Zero Regrets
Natascha and Jeanie got no rose, just 21 new friends‘The Golden Bachelor’ Episode 5 Recap
Hearts go up, up (or away) on grownups’ favorite dating show