TAMPA - Mom thinks her boy is a catch, so much so she shells out 500 bucks for an ad in The Tampa Tribune.
"ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS … a WIFE for my SON," it begins.
Signed Christmas Mother-in Law, the plea continues: "I'm sad that he's alone, a 37 year old handsome Tampa professional …
"Help me find him a wife!"
Prospective brides are asked to contact a post office box in Virginia.
Claudia, the mother-in-law-in-waiting, is a tad concerned about the family's safety. One never knows who might show up at your door, whether you're a good-looking Tampa bachelor or his loving family up in Virginia.
So we're going with no last names for this story.
Claudia swears there's nothing wrong with her son.
"He's such a good boy," she says. "He's so good-hearted, so good-looking. He's got a good job."
So far, so good, but she is his mother. Seeing is believing.
With visions of a daughter-in-law dancing in her head, Claudia agrees to get her son to contact the newspaper for a story. Surely, that will help.
Jason sounds nice and normal over the phone. No criminal record, either. Time to meet. He says to look for the guy with the goatee. Hair color?
"What hair?" he deadpans.
It turns out he's OK with his mother's meddling.
"I figured it was worth a shot," he says.
Jason has been looking for Mrs. Right since 2003, when he got divorced from Mrs. Wrong. There have been a few girlfriends, but "nothing that has panned out."
A Leo, he considers himself outgoing and passionate. He loves the outdoors, beach and mountains.
And Mom's right, he's good-hearted. He volunteers with a group that works with teens with Down syndrome, taking them to the movies and showing them how to make change at the store.
"I don't have kids," he explains. "And that's something I would like in the near future."
Mom's right about the job, too. Jason's a software marketing manager. He was even employee of the month.
He's a graduate of Bloomingdale High and the University of South Florida. He likes '80s music and the occasional Captain Morgan with Diet Coke.
So far, he says, his mother has received only three responses to her ad. Two came from other mothers; one with a daughter, who sounds promising; the other, a son. She wants the names of the women Jason decides not to date.
Jason is not deterred. But for Claudia, it's a sign that there aren't many single women in Tampa. Or that they just aren't adventurous.
"I feel like sometimes you just need to put yourself out there, regardless of the chance you're taking," Claudia says in an e-mail. "You will never know what you might have missed if you don't."
WANTED: DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
Jason's mom took out an ad in The Tampa Tribune to help him land a wife — or at least a few potential candidates — by Christmas. If you're interested, send a photograph and information about yourself to: Christmas Mother-in Law, P.O. Box 11802, Blacksburg VA 24062.
She'll respond with a thank-you note and send each reply to her son, who says he will meet with every person. We'll keep you posted on his progress.
Researcher Michael Messano contributed to this report. Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144.
"ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS … a WIFE for my SON," it begins.
Signed Christmas Mother-in Law, the plea continues: "I'm sad that he's alone, a 37 year old handsome Tampa professional …
"Help me find him a wife!"
Prospective brides are asked to contact a post office box in Virginia.
Claudia, the mother-in-law-in-waiting, is a tad concerned about the family's safety. One never knows who might show up at your door, whether you're a good-looking Tampa bachelor or his loving family up in Virginia.
So we're going with no last names for this story.
Claudia swears there's nothing wrong with her son.
"He's such a good boy," she says. "He's so good-hearted, so good-looking. He's got a good job."
So far, so good, but she is his mother. Seeing is believing.
With visions of a daughter-in-law dancing in her head, Claudia agrees to get her son to contact the newspaper for a story. Surely, that will help.
Jason sounds nice and normal over the phone. No criminal record, either. Time to meet. He says to look for the guy with the goatee. Hair color?
"What hair?" he deadpans.
It turns out he's OK with his mother's meddling.
"I figured it was worth a shot," he says.
Jason has been looking for Mrs. Right since 2003, when he got divorced from Mrs. Wrong. There have been a few girlfriends, but "nothing that has panned out."
A Leo, he considers himself outgoing and passionate. He loves the outdoors, beach and mountains.
And Mom's right, he's good-hearted. He volunteers with a group that works with teens with Down syndrome, taking them to the movies and showing them how to make change at the store.
"I don't have kids," he explains. "And that's something I would like in the near future."
Mom's right about the job, too. Jason's a software marketing manager. He was even employee of the month.
He's a graduate of Bloomingdale High and the University of South Florida. He likes '80s music and the occasional Captain Morgan with Diet Coke.
So far, he says, his mother has received only three responses to her ad. Two came from other mothers; one with a daughter, who sounds promising; the other, a son. She wants the names of the women Jason decides not to date.
Jason is not deterred. But for Claudia, it's a sign that there aren't many single women in Tampa. Or that they just aren't adventurous.
"I feel like sometimes you just need to put yourself out there, regardless of the chance you're taking," Claudia says in an e-mail. "You will never know what you might have missed if you don't."
WANTED: DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
Jason's mom took out an ad in The Tampa Tribune to help him land a wife — or at least a few potential candidates — by Christmas. If you're interested, send a photograph and information about yourself to: Christmas Mother-in Law, P.O. Box 11802, Blacksburg VA 24062.
She'll respond with a thank-you note and send each reply to her son, who says he will meet with every person. We'll keep you posted on his progress.
Researcher Michael Messano contributed to this report. Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144.
