Wife bitten as child happy without dog
DEAR ABBY: I’m not a dog person. I am, however, surrounded by dog owners — my family, my husband’s family, my neighbors. Back in middle school, I was bitten several times while delivering my paper route.
My husband has been without a dog for five years (since the beginning of our relationship). Over the last six months, he has begun to ask when he can get “us” a dog. I absolutely do not want one. They’re not clean, they make “messes,” and we will constantly have to find someone to care for it when we travel. I have told him this, yet he continues asking.
I suppose I could say, “Go ahead,” with the condition that my husband will have to shoulder all pet-related responsibilities. But we both know how well that will work out. What do you think? — Wary in Wisconsin
DEAR WARY: There’s a saying, “Once bitten, twice shy.” Because you have been bitten more than once, your reason for not wanting a dog seems logical. Frankly, I think it would be unfair to the animal to bring it into a household in which it wasn’t unanimously welcomed. And if you think your husband would lay the responsibility for caring for the dog on you, you should not agree.
DEAR ABBY: My 62-yearold father has recently started to streak his hair with fluorescent colors. He does it when he goes to his job and coordinates his hair color with his outfits. As far as I know, his employer has not said anything.
Also, Dad has difficulty with social cues. My mother and I aren’t happy with his “fashion” choices ,and we plead with him to stop doing this. It looks stupid and ridiculous. He claims that he has flair.
Are my mother and I wrong to criticize his “flair”? Isn’t this behavior really inappropriate for a man his age? How can we convince him that he’s making a fool of himself? — No Fool like an Old Fool
DEAR N.F.L.A.O.F.: We cannot change other people; we can only change the way we react to them. Understand that how your father presents himself reflects only on him. Because you and your mother have tried reasoning with him, you all might be happier if you stop making HIS fashion choices YOUR problem.
DEAR ABBY: My wife seems to only want sex when I’m supposed to be at work. It’s really flattering, but I am at risk of losing my job. She wanted me to call in sick today, but I didn’t know how to say no without offending her. Help! — John in Canada
DEAR JOHN: Ask your wife, “Which is more important to you — me in your bed or food on the table and a roof over our heads?”
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.