DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My girlfriend and I have been together six years and have broken up seven times. We always get back together within a few weeks because we’re so similar. We can even finish each other’s sentences!

I must admit I’m an interesting guy — intelligent, funny, and I pick up skills fast. My girlfriend is the same. We have tried to stay apart and have looked for other people who are different from us, but that never works out, because we’re always correcting them.

People who don’t know much say we’re perfect for each other because of this sameness. But being virtually identical in many ways isn’t as much fun as you’d think. In fact, sometimes it’s like dating yourself! What can we do to help make things work for the longer haul?

— Almost Like Twins, Westwood

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I always wanted to study the stars and the intricacies of outer space. My parents supported me in my dream to study astronomy seriously and perhaps get involved in space travel.

I moved far away to a fantastic university program which I really loved. Then, sadly, it was over. I was still not in space, just watching others do it — the chosen few. So, I moved back home to ponder another career path.

Now, my Winnipeg love interest is talking marriage, but I’m still more in love with the idea of going into outer space at some point in my middle-aged life. He just laughs, with love in his voice. Why? He wanted to be a famous movie star and that didn’t happen for him, either!

I don’t want to be stuck down here forever on Earth, when I dream every night of outer space. How important is it to go after your own dreams and not be compromised, not even by your love of an earthling?

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My girlfriend and I have been together six years and have broken up seven times. We always get back together within a few weeks because we’re so similar. We can even finish each other’s sentences!

I must admit I’m an interesting guy — intelligent, funny, and I pick up skills fast. My girlfriend is the same. We have tried to stay apart and have looked for other people who are different from us, but that never works out, because we’re always correcting them.

People who don’t know much say we’re perfect for each other because of this sameness. But being virtually identical in many ways isn’t as much fun as you’d think. In fact, sometimes it’s like dating yourself! What can we do to help make things work for the longer haul?

— Almost Like Twins, Westwood

The international literary scene has been showering Canadian authors and publishers with love as of late.

Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, was named best publisher for the North America region at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair earlier this month.

The book fair, in conjunction with the Swedish government, also announced Winnipeg-born, L.A.-based author-illustrator Jon Klassen (This Is Not My Hat) as the recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for his work in children’s literature, a prize that comes with five million Swedish kronor (around $749,000).

Closer to home, two Canadian authors are among 223 recipients of 2026 Guggenheim fellowships based out of New York.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My boyfriend had too much to drink on the weekend and he told me he wants us to experiment with different sex partners together soon. I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.

He already has a couple in mind and whipped out a photo of them. They were barely dressed. Yikes!

Then I thought, maybe this is God’s way of warning me away from this man.

Now that I’m clearly backing off, my boyfriend is calling and saying he was just kidding when he mentioned experimenting with another couple.