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Advice to Someone Going on a First Date
Avoid this topic
Ann was beautiful, especially when she smiled. One day, she smiled at Ted, and he asked her out.
They shared a wonderful meal and a delightful conversation about this and that. Then she told him about Lester, her last boyfriend. He tried to change the subject. But when she persisted, he told her about Barbara, his last girlfriend. The evening was short.
What’s wrong with talking about former lovers? It shows that you’re thinking about them, not about the person you’re with. As John Lennon says about his former lovers, “I know I’ll often stop and think about them.” Fine. Just don’t talk about them on a first date.
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John Porter manages his family’s cattle ranch in California, where he also writes stories, essays, and screenplays and occasionally gives dating advice.