Lonely? Aren’t we all? Give friendship a chance

This column was originally published in 2015.

Dear Annie: I’m a little confused about a recent development in my life. I’m a 69-year-old male. My wife died last summer after being in a nursing facility for nearly two years.

I recently went on a trip to visit some buddies. On the way, I decided to see a woman who was married to my wife’s cousin. Her husband also died after a long illness. I found that I enjoyed the short time we had together. At the conclusion of the trip with my buddies, she agreed to see me on my way back. The second visit seemed even better than the first. I thought we had a real connection.

I’m not sure where to go with this new friendship. I really like her a lot. Should I stay in contact? Do you think I’m just lonely and looking for companionship? I don’t want to simply fill a void. Should I continue with letters and texting, waiting to see whether anything happens, or should I be straightforward and ask how she feels about me? Confused

Dear Confused: Yes, you should stay in contact, and yes, you should let her know you are interested in spending more time with her. Are you lonely or looking for companionship? Most people are. We might caution you if you were desperately looking into mail-order brides, but that’s not the case. You know this woman. She is already a friend. You enjoy her company, and she seems to enjoy yours. We say go for it.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column.