The Dark Side Of The Spoon

I've been on and off all year with a guy who'd just ended a 10-year relationship. He always acted skittish about getting attached. After two months apart, we started seeing each other again last week. He's suddenly saying stuff like "I just want to hold you." Is this a sign he wants a serious relationship?

--Hopeful

A Florida woman sold her grilled cheese sandwich on eBay for $28,000 after spotting the Virgin Mary on it -- well, how the Virgin Mary might look as played by Charlize Theron in a trench coat and a finger wave. People manage to see whatever's meaningful to them, whatever tells the story that makes them feel good. You, for example, have a week of "I just want to hold you," and never mind that year of "I just want to hold you at arm's length." Yank off your hope-colored glasses, and let time tell you what's what: whether he spent two months thinking about what you mean to him -- or two seconds coming up with a cuddly spin on "With this much tequila in me, you'll be lucky to get a firm hug."