I need help navigating a new/renewed relationship where we are communicating almost solely by Facebook Messenger. Before your alarm bells go off that I am getting trolled, I do know him.

We dated when I was in high school and he was in college. He went off to fulfill his obligation to the military, then I went off to college. We had a close mutual friend with whom I also lost touch. From time to time, I would look for them. 

I was bored a few weeks ago and started looking again. I found his profile on Facebook, so I messaged him. He responded immediately saying he remembered me. I should add that I am now late 60s and he is early 70s. Ironically, we both ended up in New England and are about three hours away. He is retired. I still work full-time for myself.

The problem is that other than a couple of phone calls using Facebook messenger, we only communicate by messaging. We have been messaging every day and a lot in the evening. In addition to the nuances that are lost through this type of communication, when he unexpectedly goes silent for a couple of hours in the evening, I get concerned that something has gone awry.

I flirt and tease him a lot. He has said he is very grateful that I am back in his life. I think we both are hoping that this will turn into an actual relationship. I can be pretty insecure about relationships. He has been married before. I have not been in a relationship in decades.

We have agreed that at some point we want to meet in person. I am nervous about that for all of the usual reasons, but also because I need to lose weight. Meantime, I am trying to figure out how to navigate communication.

Help with all of this please.

– I Used to be Seventeen