Inquiry for Christmas date listed on double billboard in Paradise – Chico Enterprise-Record

A billboard ad by Magalia resident Linda Howard, who sought a date for Christmas, is seen Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 near the Skyway in Paradise, California. (Michael Weber/Enterprise-Record)

MAGALIA — Magalia resident Linda Howard knows that love isn’t just going to come magically appear and knock on her front door.

Of all the strategies to search for someone special, Howard has come up with a distinctive way of casting her net.

A Christmas-themed double billboard, seen posted on the Skyway in Paradise, advertises “Three Sisters Looking for Christian Gentleman,” along with a list of requirements and contact information.

Howard, who procured the billboard in hopes of a date for Christmas, listed as a requirement: “Must Know How to Man the Sleigh.” And she’s not willing to settle for less.

“I think God has a purpose for everything,” Howard said. “I’ve been single for 34 years and He hasn’t been very fast getting, so I thought I’d help Him out there a little bit.”

Howard said she came up with the idea to put up the billboard to look for dates for herself and two other close women in her life — one of them already has a tea date planned. She’d earned her living fixing up homes, is always busy, and likes to do things that are different and “off the wall.”

Howard isn’t looking for someone to pay for her meals, but someone to spend time doing projects with and to enjoy time together.

“I need a date for Christmas. Not that I need a date, that’s not it. I can do just fine on my own, but it would be nice to meet a nice gentleman who has the same interests and go and do things and laugh,” Howard said.

She had never seen an ad like this before, and designed it herself.

Responses

Luckily for Howard, people have indeed inquired.

A 23-year-old gentleman sent a picture of himself with his hunting rifle, checking off her requirement “Must Enjoy Target Practice (Not On Reindeer),” but that was a hard no for Howard.

“He could have been my grandson,” she said.

Howard said she’d also received emails from an inmate, which wasn’t promising, either. But one gentleman around her age may fit the bill.

“We haven’t met, but we have the same interests,” Howard said. “So you know, who knows?”

Even women have inquired, asking her that if she has any extra Christian gentlemen to send them their way.

Howard is forthright in what she wants — a man who shares her values as a Christian, who has their own place and can plan unique dates. Coffee outings just won’t do.

“He has to have something out of the box, not like coffee or something like that. I don’t have time for that. You have to be creative,” Howard said. “Laughter is an important part of life and there’s not enough of that. So if you don’t have a sense of humor, just keep on walkin.”

Having been single for some time, Howard said she’s not interested in marriage, but someone who she can do activities and work with.

Another requirement listed: “Too Many Projects Going On at Once … Not Enough Time or Money.”

“We have to have the same values. I’m looking for a friend to work with, and I will help them with their projects,” Howard said. “Once in a while, finding an extra hand because I can’t lift a bale of hay, it would be nice to have someone on the other end of the bale of hay to help.”

She also wants to learn fly fishing and welding, if someone would like to teach her.

Looking forward

Howard said she isn’t shy and gets bored easily; she’d prefer someone with their own house to return to.

“I’m kind of sassy because I’ve been single for a long time and I can do my own thing. If you want to come along, I would love to have you,” Howard said.

For her part, Howard said she always has something to do and will plan a second date after the right person plans the first.

She’s also part of a Mini Cooper club in Chico and requires potential dates to “Enjoy Day Trips in Mini Cooper.”