By Abigail Van Buren

Abigail

— Lonely In The East Dear Lonely: While I sympathize with your mother-in-law, it appears there is more going on here than the fact that she’s grieving. That Grace has shut out her other relatives and has allowed herself to become dependent upon your husband and son to the extent that it is harming your marriage isn’t healthy for any of you. If this continues, counseling may be in order for ALL of you — grief counseling and support for “Mama” and marriage and family counseling to save your relationship with your husband and son. Please don’t take what I am advising lightly.

Dear Abby: Recently, my elderly father and his girlfriend threw a wedding for themselves. Invitations were sent with requests that included: dinner was to be a potluck, guests were asked to provide singing and music for the entertainment, and a note was enclosed that read, “In lieu of gifts, a monetary donation for our honeymoon fund would really make our day.”

Now, weeks later, I have found out it was a huge charade. There was no wedding. What do I say to them? More than 50 friends and family attended this joke ceremony. Bear in mind, the bride and groom have been married multiple times before, and I now question the validity of those marriages.

— Duped In Midwest If guests traveled a long distance to attend the “wedding” as well as contributed money toward the “honeymoon”, I can see why they would be upset about the fraud. I can also see why in the future the happy couple will have lost credibility and will have trouble attracting a crowd to their next performance.

What should you say to them? If you think anything you might say would shame them, forget it. They are without shame. And if you are invited to another shindig, just say No.

Dear Duped:

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.