Removing dentures sends date running

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This article was published 03/03/2019 (2754 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My false teeth were bothering me, so I took them out in the car as I drove at night, forgetting I was with my new girlfriend. She looked at me sideways, asked what was wrong with my mouth and everything went south from there. I popped my dentures back in, but she didn’t want to kiss me good night. It was only our third date, but I really had taken a shine to her.

She isn’t answering when I call her cell. Did my false teeth scare her away, or am I being overly sensitive?

Maybe she just didn’t like me as a person.

— Don’t Know What To Do Next, Fort Garry

Dear Don’t Know: Leave her one more message asking her to call you if she wants to get together again, and leave all your contact details. Then let it go. Your relationship wasn’t old enough to take your teeth out with her.

It’s time you got your teeth adjusted so they won’t hurt and you can avoid this business of sneaking them out in the dark. It’s not a good move to make when dating.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I just read your column about the Irish and Indigenous couple who were ignored and served poorly at a restaurant on Valentine’s Day. They didn’t even receive a rose like all the other diners did. It got me upset!

I have 30 years in the restaurant business and that was totally unacceptable — even on the busiest day of the year.

This lady does not mention the restaurant by name, but if they were handing out roses, I presume it was not an obscure diner.

My two cents? If I were you, Miss Lonelyhearts, I’d find out where the couple went, contact the manager or owner and forward them her letter.

Ask them to remedy the damage with a note of apology and a gift certificate. They should ask the couple to pre-book so all staff is aware and on their toes! Maybe they could add flowers to the table, as well.

Competition is fierce in this town and everything counts, so even if this lady did not mention the restaurant in her letter, I’m sure she told friends who told friends.

You know how a bad review drums far away to hundreds, while a word-of-mouth compliment never makes it very far.

A restaurant manager should know that a critique is constructive and one should want to fix the problem and avoid another critique.

— One Who Knows, Winnipeg

Dear One Who Knows: I think a letter from the couple to the manager would be the way to go.

If that manager is a prejudiced person, and passes down nasty feelings to a prejudiced staff, the letter may hit the wastebasket.

But if the manager is a step removed from how certain staff are mistreating people, those staff members may be chastised, fired or at least re-educated.

Unless they’re too embarrassed, this couple has already told their friends the story of the cold treatment they received, and will dine elsewhere from now on.

Thank goodness there are so many great restaurants in Winnipeg with staff who wouldn’t do this.

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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