Let hopeful high school crush move into future

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/04/2022 (1299 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I met an attractive man who looked vaguely familiar to me, and I asked him out. Over a fun evening at dinner, we started to get pretty close, talking about our lives as adults.

Finally, he said, “You don’t really recognize me, do you?” and I admitted I didn’t. He said, “I was the fat guy, two years behind you in high school, who had a big crush on you.”

For the life of me, I could not remember him clearly. He is a handsome man, now, and not an overweight guy at all. I didn’t look at boys younger than me in high school. It was a very big school.

Once he’d reminded me about some school activities we were both in, he was obviously hurt I didn’t have any recall of him. He hasn’t called me yet, although he has my number. Should I call him again?

— His Old Crush, Osborne Village

Dear Crush: He felt renewed hope when you asked him out. But, it was crushing that you still had no clear recollection of him as a young guy.

Way back in school, he’d been looking at you and adoring you. On the date, he tried to prod your memory with situations where you’d both been in the same space, but nothing at all came back to you.

As an adult, this guy knows he needs to let that old dream go now. Let him do that.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Cooking and eating have always been my greatest pleasures in life. My parents — who retired to another province — are both gourmet cooks and rave about their new foodie friends.

I’m approaching my 31st birthday, and I’m all alone, dragging myself to a sales job I hate. My last girlfriend is gone for good. She left me, saying I’m a “spoiled only child, and a food snob” and that I “should go back to my mommy and daddy.”

She’d be shocked to know I’m actually considering the idea. I love my parents’ cooking, and I’ve cooked in restaurants before. I’d like to try that again. but more seriously. What do you think?

— Lonely Food Snob, St. Boniface

Dear Food Snob: It’s not a bad idea for a young-ish man with gourmet tendencies to move closer to the chefs who raised him. Then you could look for a job in the restaurant industry in the area, and possibly meet the daughters of your folks’ foodie friends.

People with very strong hobbies and interests need to find like-minded groups to hang out with. Rather than looking for yet another girlfriend here, you need to find a sweetheart within a group of established foodies.

So, phone those folks. They may not want you to move back “in-house” with them at 31, so ask to make a deal with them for a three- to four-month stay.

They’ll probably know a circle of foodies who are well acquainted with area restaurants and able to help you make some contacts for a first job. You might also take some cooking courses to make new friends on your own.

When you’re seriously looking for a new sweetheart, all these people can help you find a natural match. Stop fighting who you really are! It really helps in finding love.

Send questions 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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