Dear Eric: I am 66 and live by myself. I feel so alone. I took care of my husband for 18 years so there wasn’t much time to make friends. How or where do I start to find friends?
—Wanting Company
Dear Wanting Company: Start with what you enjoy. What hobbies or activities pique your interest? You can do a general search or look on sites like Meetup to get started. Or try something new. Explore something you’ve never thought about before. Take a tap dance class or a pottery course; join a book club.
Reach out to your local senior center, the AARP, or YMCA to see what they’re offering. Something as simple as a meal or a movie night can introduce you to new people.
Many readers have also written about the community they find at places like The Villages (vtvnetwork.org), which is a network designed to help elders age in place through activities, volunteer opportunities, and logistical support like rides.
Dear Eric: I recently attended a concert where the audience sat for most of the concert and stood up for three or four songs. However, the person directly in front of me stood up for the entire concert, completely blocking my view.
When I informed the person that they were ruining my experience, the person told me it was their right to stand.
I asked an usher for help, but they refused to step in.
Do you think it is appropriate for someone to be so inconsiderate? What is the correct etiquette at a concert?
—No View of the Stage
Dear No View of the Stage: Concerts are a rare social space where it’s appropriate, even encouraged to stand if you can and want to. That doesn’t negate your right to enjoy yourself, too. But it might require some creativity. Is it possible to ask a nearby stander if you can switch places or ask an usher if you can move to a different seat?
There are plenty of places where standing is going to be a no-go. I can’t imagine standing through “Hamlet” unless I’m at the Old Globe, for instance. Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” may have originally incited a riotous response, but people generally sit for it nowadays. However, depending on the type of music and the vibe of the concert, it may be necessary to find an alternative to ensure maximum enjoyment.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)
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