Make time for kindness in 2019

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This article was published 07/01/2019 (2781 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: On New Year’s Eve, when the temperature was -38 C with the wind chill, my granddaughter stopped at a gas station on Portage Avenue to fill up. When she was done and attempted to start the car, it wouldn’t start. She thought it might need a boost. She asked eight people who were there filling up with gas as well for help and all eight said no.

One person told her to call CAA, which she could have done, but it could have been quite a wait, as well as blocking one lane at the gas pumps. She asked the station attendant, and he said they don’t do boosts. (She had booster cables in her car.) In the end, she phoned a friend nearby who came to the gas station and gave her a boost.

I read in the Free Press about kind-hearted people who go to great lengths to help someone in need. But, obviously, there are other people who are not in that category. Those eight people know who they are, if they happen to read this. Hope they made some New Year’s resolutions for the better. It always gave me a great feeling to be a part of Friendly Manitoba, but this was very disappointing.

— Friendly Manitoba? Winnipeg

Dear Friendly: Eight people refused to help? Shameful! They didn’t want to get their hands dirty on a fancy party night? They can’t have been afraid of her and it wouldn’t have cost them more than a few minutes of their time. I’m so sorry this happened to your granddaughter. There’s a long, cold winter ahead, and any one of us could have the same problem your granddaughter did.

I think of my own parents, who were in a car accident outside the city in the winter when three cars drove past them before anyone bothered to stop. Mom and Dad were conscious, but in terrible pain, and saw these people going by them in the ditch, one by one, ignoring them as they blew their horn. My dad’s back was broken and my mom’s back was forever bent. They couldn’t get out to flag anybody down. Though there are many helpful and friendly Manitobans, I lost my innocence on this issue that day.

People, let’s all take care of each other and not turn our backs on people who need help. That is shamefully cold behaviour in a climate that is already cold enough.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I met a woman at a fancy New Year’s house party. She was a real cutie and we were both inebriated. We got into a little back hallway and played some kissy-face at midnight. Then her big husband came looking for her, roaring her name. She was drunker than I was, and she pulled me into a tiny room with a lock. He didn’t find us and I thought it was funny, but was a little nervous and went home ASAP, thinking that was it.

Today she called me and wants us to get together again “for some unfinished business.” Now, I’m a grown man, though 10-15 years younger than she is, and I know what’s up. The thing is, I haven’t had much of a sex life since my girlfriend and I broke up, and I could really do with some action. I don’t think she is the type to fall in love. She just has a husband with power and money for her to spend.

I called my best buddy this morning, and he warned me to stay away from her, hinting that I could get my face broken. Was he just being dramatic or could he have meant that? What should do?

— Tempted to See Her, Southdale

Dear Tempted: Stay away from this dangerous woman. There are lots of women out there who would be happy to date you and maybe even play with you, without endangering your handsome face.

Some rich and powerful husbands don’t take kindly to guys fooling with their wives, and if they don’t come to visit you themselves, they can hire someone who will. Yes, it would probably be easy to get some fast action from this woman, but it’s not worth the risk. Take your friend’s warning, trusting he’s heard more than you want to know, and don’t question him about the details.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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