A little acceptance can go a long way

Advertisement

Advertise with us

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I literally ran into my ex-wife when I was backing up my car in a shopping mall parking lot. She got out of her car, took one look at me and laughed. She said, “I’m not going to report this, and neither should you.” I laughed too. Both our cars were old beaters and we both had better vehicles at home.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/07/2025 (438 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I literally ran into my ex-wife when I was backing up my car in a shopping mall parking lot. She got out of her car, took one look at me and laughed. She said, “I’m not going to report this, and neither should you.” I laughed too. Both our cars were old beaters and we both had better vehicles at home.

Then we went for a pizza and now we’re dating again.

I’m just writing to say some people have a crazy attraction for each other and if they finally learn to enjoy each other’s foibles, it’s the way to peace.

Now, when people remark on us getting back together — while we vote differently, go to different churches, eat different foods and so on — we just laugh and say,“We don’t know why we love each other. We’re not alike at all and we agree on nothing, but we do enjoy being together.”

Now our differences don’t matter — they’re just interesting.

However, we do agree on one thing. Our favourite saying for making peace and leaving disagreement alone is to say in a kind voice, “let it be” — just like the Beatles song.

— Found Way to Peace, Charleswood

Dear Found the Way: Dr. Phil McGraw made headway with a great number of couples when he put forth the idea that people don’t have to be in harmony in their thoughts and beliefs — and that includes politics and religion.

He believes the sooner they realize that, the sooner their love relationships and friendships can succeed.

It certainly reduces the frequency of arguments when people can shrug their shoulders and say, “OK, I don’t think the same, but I respect your right to disagree and think for yourself and I still love you as much.”

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I’m excited right now about a girlfriend of my older sister with whom I had a secret fling with when I was 16 and a virgin. She was hot and I had a muscular young body from weightlifting. She was older and had some real sexual experience, but it didn’t go well at all.

She never called me back, probably due to my lack of experience and no moves, but now I’m 20 and I have a lot more to offer.

However, this woman contacted me last week and said she still dreams about my perfect body at the beach and would like to see me again.

She told me she rented a place near Grand Beach this month and asked if I would like to drive up and get together and go back to the dunes there to have some fun together.

I’m older and recognize it is an invitation to hook up again, but last time we did that she didn’t answer my calls afterwards. Still, I reluctantly told her I would come this time, thinking I could make a better memory for her.

But now I’m having second thoughts and wondering if I should ask her why she never talked to me after the first time. I didn’t dare ask her then.

— Feeling Nervous, Selkirk

Dear Nervous: This woman does seem somewhat predatory, so don’t let her use you again.

This recent communication was a bold invitation to go on a sex date to improve her memory of how it ended. She no doubt remembers your perfect 16-year-old body and thinks you might have more experience now to add to the visuals.

What a user. Don’t give her the chance to do this to you again. She’s not worthy of a second try.

Save your erotic experiences to share with somebody who cares about you and deserves to be with you intimately and in every other way.

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

Maureen Scurfield

Maureen Scurfield
Advice columnist

Maureen Scurfield writes the Miss Lonelyhearts advice column.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Nothing wrong with planting trees, but it won’t get province very far on path to net zero

Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview

Nothing wrong with planting trees, but it won’t get province very far on path to net zero

Dan Lett 5 minute read Yesterday at 2:39 PM CDT

Manitoba’s new plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a lot of things. It’s detailed. It’s certainly comprehensive in scope. But when it is all said and done, it is still very much a work in progress.

Read
Yesterday at 2:39 PM CDT

A little acceptance can go a long way

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 4, 2025

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I literally ran into my ex-wife when I was backing up my car in a shopping mall parking lot. She got out of her car, took one look at me and laughed. She said, “I’m not going to report this, and neither should you.” I laughed too. Both our cars were old beaters and we both had better vehicles at home.

Then we went for a pizza and now we’re dating again.

I’m just writing to say some people have a crazy attraction for each other and if they finally learn to enjoy each other’s foibles, it’s the way to peace.

Now, when people remark on us getting back together — while we vote differently, go to different churches, eat different foods and so on — we just laugh and say,“We don’t know why we love each other. We’re not alike at all and we agree on nothing, but we do enjoy being together.”

Tory health critic ‘disappointed’ after being rebuffed by health officials

Carol Sanders 3 minute read Preview

Tory health critic ‘disappointed’ after being rebuffed by health officials

Carol Sanders 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026

The health critic for the Progressive Conservative party says her ability to get information about the accelerated reopening of Dauphin’s emergency department was stymied by Prairie Mountain Health officials because they refused to meet with her.

“I wanted to meet with PMH staff to discuss the status of the facility and the challenges they’re facing and getting services back online,” Kathleen Cook said Friday.

“I was very disappointed that Prairie Mountain Health declined me that opportunity.”

Cook said she asked for a meeting a few days after the Sept. 7 reopening of a temporary ER at the hospital, that was severely damaged by flooding.

Read
Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026

Summer success sends Brezden to the Black Sea

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Preview

Summer success sends Brezden to the Black Sea

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Yesterday at 3:35 PM CDT

Breken Brezden got off to a flying start as a new figure skating season dawned in August making the Manitoban one to watch, once again, among the sport’s elite in Canada.

The Dauphin athlete pocketed a silver medal in Montreal, then notched a win in Waterloo, outscoring a handful of Canada’s higher ranked women along the way.

In Montreal, Brezden, 20, topped the standings in the free skate portion of the competition and, with a total score of 171.03, exceeded the 166 benchmark Skate Canada set for international assignments.

“I’m quite happy with how my summer competitions went,” said Brezden, who trains in Hamilton, Ont.

Read
Yesterday at 3:35 PM CDT

Bombers exact revenge in Banjo Bowl, lose Collaros to injury

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Bombers exact revenge in Banjo Bowl, lose Collaros to injury

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026

Redha Kramdi downplayed the significance of his return for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I don’t think I have that big of an impact,” said Kramdi on Tuesday, who watched the club go 2-4 while he was sidelined with a cast on his left hand.

It sounded silly at the time, and it’s even sillier now considering how exceptional the 29-year-old safety from Montreal was in Saturday’s 22nd edition of the Banjo Bowl.

Kramdi caused two turnovers — a forced fumble and an interception — to lead the Bombers to a 19-6 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in front of a sell-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium.

Read
Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026

Menstruation, consent move up in sex-ed lesson plan

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Preview

Menstruation, consent move up in sex-ed lesson plan

Maggie Macintosh 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT

Manitoba’s newest curriculum introduces the menstrual cycle earlier and repeatedly calls for explicit lessons on how students can give, seek, and decline to provide their consent.

The education department has released its sweeping proposal to overhaul how exercise, nutrition and sexuality are taught between kindergarten and Grade 12.

Grade 5 has long served as a key turning point for “the talk,” said J Fiedler, a sexual and reproductive health educator who provided input on the new curriculum.

“There’s no ‘the talk’ anymore. Now, there’s continuations of multiple ‘talks,’ which can hopefully reduce stress for students and stigma that people experience talking about sexuality.”

Read
Yesterday at 6:00 AM CDT