She regrets having given out her phone number

DEAR AMY: I am an 18-year-old college student. I'm working at an internship. At my workplace there is a gentleman who works in maintenance. He seems to have a mental handicap. He often stops by during my lunch break to talk with me.

Recently, I gave him my number with the intent that it be primarily a method of contact in case of an emergency. He started texting me, asking me how I am, and I didn't mind. In a matter of days, however, the texts changed. He has asked what sizes of clothes I wear, and when I inquired he said he wanted to get some for me. He has said he loves me. I have a huge problem with this, but I am unsure what to do. I want to assume that he is oblivious, but my gut tells me otherwise. I don't have the backbone to tell him to get lost, because I know I would want someone to be nice to me. Should I just ignore him? Should I talk to the intern supervisor? Is there some way I can handle this gracefully?Distressed Intern

DEAR DISTRESSED: You sound like a very nice young woman, but I can't imagine why you would give your phone number to someone you barely know "for emergency purposes." You should tell this person, very clearly, that you don't want him to contact you by phone. You must also tell your intern supervisor exactly what has transpired.

DEAR AMY: I was amused to learn that despite being surrounded by technology, you still have a rotary phone. We used our rotary phone until it became impossible to do business. So now it's buttons, but we keep the rotary one to amuse and startle the young. We were delighted that you still use yours. Tom and Beverly in Va.

DEAR TOM AND BEVERLY: Using my rotary phone helps me embrace my own vintage quality, which, like the phone's, is startling but not quite amusing.