Ellen Goltzer and Gerry Turner on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.Photo:Disney/John Fleenor
Disney/John Fleenor
The Golden Bachelor’sEllen Goltzeradmits that she has heard from some former beaus after appearing on national television.
The 71-year-old retired teacher tells PEOPLE that “old boyfriends from college and high school” have been “reaching out” after seeing her on the ABC dating series.
“It’s almost a surreal experience. People use that word a lot, but it really is,” she says. “It’s almost like an out-of-body experience where you don’t think he’s watching me, but I don’t think that’s really me.”
“And then when people will come up to me and say something like, ‘Oh, I know you’ or people are reaching out from elementary school. I went to Forester School with her. It’s crazy," she adds.
Gerry Turner and Ellen Goltzer on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.Disney/John Fleenor
The pickleball captain says her past loves simply reached out to say “congrats.”
When asked what she told her boyfriends, she teases, “I think I would’ve said, what’s up? Maybe it might’ve been different, but they lost their chance.”
Goltzer’s journey onThe Golden Bachelorcame toan abrupt endon Thursday when she did not receive a rose fromGerry Turnerafter she declared that she was “falling head over heels in love.”
Susan, Sandra, Theresa, Ellen, Leslie and Faith on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.Disney/John Fleenor
The Florida native now tells PEOPLE that she was “weak in the knees when I heard that he called Theresa’s name and I was surprised.”
“I had doubts about his feelings because I know he was torn between a few girls, but not enough to feel I wasn’t getting one rose,” she explains. “There was three people. So I just anticipated being one of those people and when I wasn’t, I was a little shocked.”
During her time on the show, Goltzer was forthright about her feelings about Turner. She explains, “The people that know me will say, ‘Wow, I saw a side of her that I never really saw before,’ but my ability to be honest and forthright and share things with him. I think he was a little surprised and I surprised myself [with] the ability to do that.”
Gerry Turner and Ellen Goltzer on ‘The Golden Bachelor’.ABC/John Fleenor
ABC/John Fleenor
“I’m not usually that verbal as far as emotions. I think that’s why I was persuaded to go and apply because people in my life that love me knew that there was something missing in my life even though I had a full life,” she explains. “I didn’t expect to be that way. I didn’t expect to be that emotional. I didn’t expect to be so comfortable with the filming.”
She says ultimately the show brought her out of her “comfort zone,” adding, “I was able to just let loose, but I let loose a little bit too much. But I guess it was good for me to be able to do that because it showed me that I was capable of being emotional again and looking for love again. It really did. I was shocked.”
After the show aired on Friday, Goltzer also shared a heartfelt message onInstagram, noting that she is not giving up on love.
“I have a new lease on love, I know I can fall in love again, and like my best friend Roberta said— never say never!!! I’m so ready to find my forever person, I wasn’t ready for so long, but I’m so ready now! 💛🌹”
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The Golden Bachelorairs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
