You're so right Derbhile about the minefield that questions as a conversational gambit have become. When I first re-met (after 40 years! he was the boy next door) the man to whom I am now happily married I bombarded him with questions about his life in the intervening decades. After a while I decided that the poor man was frightened by this barrage of questions. Happily he recovered enough to eventually ask me the most important question. And I said yes!
You're so right Derbhile about the minefield that questions as a conversational gambit have become. When I first re-met (after 40 years! he was the boy next door) the man to whom I am now happily married I bombarded him with questions about his life in the intervening decades. After a while I decided that the poor man was frightened by this barrage of questions. Happily he recovered enough to eventually ask me the most important question. And I said yes!
Aw, what a romantic story about the power of the right question. I'm guessing he was delighted with your interest!
He did look a bit terrified but I realised also that he had three very bossy sisters so was probably used to overbearing women!!!