Once Upon A Time

 

By Jeff Johnson And Paula Forman

 

Dear Short Answers:

 

I own a small business, and I’m head over heels in love with the man that I run it with. (It turns out that the feeling is mutual.) I know that I can’t have a personal relationship with him and risk messing up our professional relationship — I can’t run the business without him. How can I get over my feelings for him while still working so closely together?

 

In Love

 

 

 

Dear Love:

 

Assuming neither of you are married to other people, we see possibilities here.  Don’t mess with it if you think it is just an infatuation but if you are really in love and willing to work as hard at your relationship as you do at your business — you wouldn’t be the first couple in the world to combine business with pleasure.

 

CAVEAT EMPTOR

 

 

 

Dear Short Answers:

 

I recently started dating a woman and we seem to really hit it off.  But I just found out that she is living with (and I really mean LIVING with) another woman.  She has invited me back to her house and hinted that we might get into a three-some with her “roommate.”  I am kind of curious and more than a little bit turned on but not sure if this kind of thing ever really works out.  Do you think people can truly be bi-sexual?  I don’t want to be the one who gets hurt in this situation.

 

John Doe

 

 

 

Dear Doe:

 

It depends on what you mean by “works out.”  If you are looking for a serious relationship with this woman, we think she has just told you that is NOT a possibility. If you are looking for a potentially interesting experience, it’s a definite “maybe.”  But be clear — it is an erotic adventure and not an affair of the heart. Hint: Sense of humor always helpful in these situations.

 

 

 

YOUR CALL

 

 

 

Dear Short Answers:

 

If your boyfriend ignores Valentine’s Day, forgets your birthday and believes that anniversaries aren’t important — is it time to get a new boyfriend?

 

No Presents

 

 

 

Dear No:

 

Well, if you are looking for trophies, then obviously you got the wrong guy.  We think things like kindness, humor and intelligence are more important for the long run but you get to pick your poison.

 

KEEPING IT LIGHT

 

 

 

Dear Short Answers:

 

My senior director at work (to whom I report) is intelligent, personable and well-respected. She often employs an incorrect word when speaking at meetings. For instance, when it is clear she means to say “semantics” she says “schematics” which are clearly different. She also says “Orientals” instead of “Asians.” Looking for advice on the proper way to offer private feedback without creating any embarrassment for her. She would probably do the same for someone else.

 

About the Boss

 

 

 

Dear ATB:

 

Your intentions are good and that will be apparent. Find a moment to say “Hey, I think you were out of the office when they declared ‘Oriental’ politically incorrect — now we are supposed to say “Asian.”   And see how that goes.  Perhaps share your own moment of incorrectness; for example, “I said ‘sex’ for years until someone told me the ‘correct term is gender.’ Wait for another time for the semantics/schematics thing – “don’t you mean semantics?” –  it’s NBD.

 

NO EXCUSES

 

 

 

Dear Short Answers:

 

How do you explain to people why you don’t drink without acknowledging you were a drunk?

 

On the Wagon

 

 

 

Dear On:

 

Sometimes the less said, the better.

 

 

 

 

Life is complicated. “Short Answers” isn’t.

 

 

 

 

Send a question about whatever is bothering you to [email protected] or go to www.shortanswers.net and a psychologist and sociologist will answer. A selection of the best questions will be printed every week in KonkLife.

 

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