Reach out to break spell for disenchanted mate

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: My girlfriend has long, black hair and won’t get off her witch kick now that Halloween is over.

I’ve had more than enough. She and her friends were experimenting with spells in the six weeks before Halloween, and I just smirked. I thought it was a silly activity mostly to get them in the mood for the big Halloween-night party at our house.

I have to admit, my woman looked pretty sexy in a tight black-lace dress, black stockings, boots, cape and hat. All the women there kept saying to her, “Oh, it’s the real you — it’s bringing out the true witch in you,” and taking her picture. It went right to her head.

Even though my girlfriend took everything off to sleep, she put the black dress back on when she woke up, and wore it around the apartment all day with her scraggly hair and smeared makeup from the night before.

She says something happened inside her she can’t explain, and she’s feeling special vibes. She’s been experimenting with potions she sourced online and boiling up nasty stuff on the stove.

It’s creepy and annoying, and we had a huge blow-up over it after I told her she was acting stupid and that I was worried about her mental health. That sent her right up the wall.

Now she’s barely talking to me, and today she murmured something about maybe needing to move out. I don’t want that. I love her and I don’t want to lose her. I just need her to wake up, get out of these stupid trances for good and get back to being her normal self.

Should I call her new girlfriends and tell them she’s acting strange, or will that just make it worse if I go behind her back? What a horrible mess. Please advise.

— Freaking Out, North End

Dear Freaking Out: Come at this with an attitude of love and concern, instead of anger and insults. That will only rile up your girlfriend and you’ll get another fiery blast.

Tell her the things you love and admire about her as a loving person, and build her up. Some people use costume celebrations to act out aspects of their character that are more creative and powerful than what they express in everyday life.

In your girlfriend’s situation, she had a gang who were enjoying getting into play-acting before Halloween, and she may be feeling things falling flat now that it’s all over.

So yes, call the new girlfriend that might like you best, and talk to her about what’s happened. If her buddies realize she’s going too far with things, they may be able to help bring her down to Earth.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I want to go away on a holiday to the mountains at Christmas because I love skiing. I’m willing to pay for myself and my fairly new girlfriend, but she’s declared herself a homebody for this holiday season.

So, I asked a couple of my single friends to go and they said they were interested. The plan is to head west with me on Boxing Day.

Now my woman has gone into a major-league sulk over this, from which there may be no return. She says I’m spoiling her holiday and is strongly hinting we may break up over this. What? Over a ski trip?

I don’t know what to do. I would never break up with her for going off on a little trip with her friends. I’m not even leaving town until Boxing Day or the day after. How can I get through to her on how unreasonable she’s being?

— Seriously Annoyed Skier, Southwestern Manitoba

Dear Seriously Annoyed: Your girlfriend may have been picturing a Christmas holiday like never before with her beloved man by her side. Instead, there may be relatives wondering if you two have broken up when you’re away skiing.

The holiday season is often a time when serious new couples meet all their mate’s relatives at parties and dinners. She may be imagining those events with family members asking, “Where’s your great new man? Can’t even be with you at Christmas?” Ouch.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.