DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I went to jail more than 15 years ago now, and it’s part of my past. I own my own business now and everything is better than I’d ever hoped. Just recently, a guy I’d been in jail with came into my store, started looking around and kept looking at me.
I smiled at him and said hello, and used his first name. He said that he heard I worked there.
I told him I owned the store. He stayed a few more minutes, said goodbye and left. I didn’t get any bad vibes, but I sensed some kind of emotion. He obviously wasn’t there to buy anything.
Was he maybe checking me out to see how I was living? He was quite well-dressed and in good shape. I’m guessing he has a decent job. Why would he come to see me?
— Curious About Him, Winnipeg
Dear Curious: My guess is he may have wanted to see another guy who had a difficult time in the past who is also now living a better life.
He may have felt a mixture of emotions — relief that someone else who shared a similar mistake could rise above it and perhaps a little envy that you owned your own shop.
Or perhaps he was looking for a job, but too shy to ask you in the end. He may come back in to do that.
Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I work in a small kiosk with a co-worker who asks me all kinds of personal questions as a way to pass the time. Yesterday she mentioned the unique name of a guy she’s related to. There can’t be another guy with a name like that in all of Canada. I dug a little further, and yes, it is the same guy.
I went out with him for a short time, and he’s a wild, crazy guy, but not dangerous. Should I tell her about my old connection to her cousin?
I’m not looking for a closer tie to this woman, believe me, but talk about a small world. Do you believe in fate? This woman and I are not close, and never will be, but this is more than interesting.
— Blast From the Past, rural Manitoba
Dear Blast: Why not explore the connection with your booth mate? It could be an interesting conversation for both of you. That doesn’t mean you’re going to meet up with this boyfriend again. In fact, you might politely ask that your co-worker doesn’t go and arrange something like that for her own amusement.
To even things up, ask some questions about your co-worker’s dating history and ask her to share more fun stories from her life.
You two are stuck sharing a confined space and you can’t change that, but having fun together will a make the experience a better one, and the kiosk will seem a bit bigger.
Please send your questions and comments to [email protected] or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.
Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist
Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.
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