Grandpa was right to send text over trashed car
Jeanne Phillips
Dear Abby: Recently, my wife took two of our granddaughters (ages 9 and 15) and a friend (age 15) to the movies. As usual, the next day I found trash had been left in the car.
I texted both granddaughters a picture of a garbage can and my car and asked: “Please advise which one is used to throw away trash? If you need help, ask your mom. I’m not accusing anyone of anything. Also, if one of your friends was to throw trash on your Poppy’s car floor, what should you do? Would you ask them to pick it up — yes or no?”
The only response I received was from their mom, who said, “‘Amber’ (granddaughter) did not leave trash in your car!” Things have gone downhill from there, and my wife has threatened divorce for standing my ground. We have agreed to have you settle this. What say you?
Dear Talking Trash: You are the injured party. You did nothing wrong. You are owed an apology from all concerned — the kid who left the trash in your car, and your wife and daughter for overreacting. Dear Abby: My husband has become very overweight, which has caused his sex drive — as well as his health — to suffer. I worry about him constantly, and I miss the intimacy we used to have. He is trying to eat healthier and exercise at least a little bit every day.
The problem is he constantly falls off the wagon. Sometimes he says he’s too tired to exercise, or he reverts back to his old habits. He always tries again the next day, but he won’t make much progress at the rate he’s going.
I don’t want to nag him to death, but I do want him around for a long time. What can I say that will make him take this more seriously?
Dear All About Health: Tell your husband how much you love him, and that you’re afraid “until death do us part” will happen prematurely if he continues killing himself with his fork and his sedentary ways. You might also recite the names of the diseases that accompany obesity in most people.
But ultimately, the only person who can “make” your husband commit to a diet and exercise program is himself.