Chance bus meeting reveals long-lost love

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/11/2018 (2879 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I just met an old man on the bus and we talked about life. He mentioned he was once in love with a woman who looked exactly like me, right down to the auburn hair and freckles.

When he mentioned her name, I was startled. That was my mother’s unusual name. I asked him what happened to their relationship and he said, with some vehemence, “She cheated on me with another guy and then married him!”

I asked him for the man’s name and it was my dad, who is gone now. When I told him the man was my father, he said, “Isn’t that a coincidence! I always wondered what happened to your mom.”

I told him she had three children and I was the oldest. He said she was his only true love, and that he had married another lady, but it “wasn’t the same.” As I was leaving the bus, on impulse, I bent down and gave him a little kiss on the forehead. He burst into the biggest smile. Life is strange.

I phoned my mom when I got home and she said, “You should have given him my number!” I said,”What for? You already broke his heart once.” She went quiet after that and said, “I know I did.”

Should I have passed on her number?

— Blew It? North Kildonan

Dear Blew It: She didn’t say she’d always missed him — and she did cheat on him — and hurt him badly. Your little kiss was about perfect, as a first response.

If you meet him on the bus again, and your mom has given her permission, pass on the number — but don’t fret about it at this point. If your mom really wants to see him, she can probably look up his number as most men don’t change their last names.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: This is for Old School Couple, where the woman gets car sick if she’s not driving and her husband insists on driving because “he’s the man and a better driver.”

I suffer from car sickness. People who’ve never suffered from it have absolutely no idea how horrible you can feel, even if you don’t actually throw up. Taking anti-nausea medication is not a good option at all. I suggest she get anti-nausea wristbands for this problem. They’re available at most drugstores and cost around $12 to $14. They work by pressing acupuncture points on the underside of the wrists.

I first used them on a cruise. I’d been feeling apprehensive, dreading the fact I might have to take anti-nausea pills the whole time. However, someone told me about the bands before the cruise. I had a wonderful time and I never suffered on the cruise at all! I also use them when I’m on a plane.

Even with the wristbands, I can’t be in the car for a very long period in one day. My husband always takes that into account when he plans a long road trip.

— Sympathetic Traveller, Manitoba

Dear Sympathetic: This is a much better idea than the Old School Couple driving separately and fuming, refusing to give up the wheel to the other. Thanks for writing in with the wristband suggestion. It will also work for people who are thinking about going on a cruise. I once spent three days of a seven-day cruise feeling sea sick. What a waste! The wristbands would have been a great help. Anti-nausea pills make me too tired to enjoy any activities.

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

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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