Dear Cheryl: I lied to my boyfriend about some stupid things because I didn't want to hurt him. He asked whether I've dated anyone since we started dating, and whether I had ever told my ex I loved him. He found out the truth and is so hurt. Understandably, he can't trust me now.

He says he still loves me, though, and I love him very much. I know he's The One, and I'll be heartbroken if we can't get through this. But how do we?

I haven't lied to him about anything else, but I understand where he's coming from. If I lied about those two things, what else might I have lied about? I feel horrible for creating something out of nothing and hurting him more than the truth would have.

Other than never lying again and always being honest, how can I gain his trust back? — Stupid, Stupid Me

Dear Stupid, Stupid Me: Let's all take a deep breath.

It's not like you lied about having a prison record or being a drug dealer. You told him two white lies to protect his ego. Was it a mistake? Sure. A deal-breaker? Only if he makes it one.

I'm not really crazy about your boyfriend. Has he never told a lie, white or black? Is he really this judgmental and unforgiving? If he's not willing to get over this and vow to never bring it up again, do you really want to be with him?

Nobody's perfect. We all make mistakes, and if he's going to make a big deal out of this, he doesn't sound like The One to me. Think about it.

Dear Cheryl: I'm a nice, caring, decent-looking 43-year-old guy with manners, a college degree and a job. I'm looking for love, and possibly marriage, but I can't seem to find any single women. I don't go to bars. I've been to church over the years but had no luck.

I thought I had a blind date set up. The girl was 29. When she heard I was 43, she backed out before even meeting me. Is 14 years too much of an age difference? Why are these girls so hung up on a person's age? I'm 6 feet tall with a full head of hair, and I work out at the gym. I don't look my age. I could easily pass for 34.

I know where this woman goes to church. I could drop in on a service. What do you think? — Alone

Dear Alone: I don't think 14 years is a deal-breaker, but this woman obviously does, so forget her. And don't drop in on her at church. You'll seem desperate and like a potential stalker. I gotta tell you, something doesn't add up. You sound like the catch of the century. Why aren't all your female friends constantly setting you up? What about the women you work with? I think the clue is when you wondered why all these girls were hung up on age. It seems to me you're the one who's hung up on age. Why are you trying to date younger women? Why not concentrate on women closer to your own age and see what happens?

Got a problem? Send it along with your questions and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my e-books, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front" and "I'll Call You. Not.