Man loses focus on life after close friend’s death
DEAR ABBY: A lifelong friend of mine has died unexpectedly. Because he was my age, this brought up issues of my own mortality. We’d had our ups and downs over 25 years, but he moved cross-country to the same city as I’m in and was there for many happy and sad life events, including the deaths of my remaining immediate family and his parents. I have a wonderful wife and amazing children. We are pretty active and have stressful jobs, so there is little time to be engaged, which leaves me feeling guilty about being less than 100 percent for her and the kids. We have a newborn, so I feel even more need to be present at all times.
My friend’s death has brought up painful feelings I thought I was over — like the feeling of being an “orphan” (I have no immediate family left). Losing someone my age has hit me hard, which I honestly didn’t anticipate. I know I’m focusing on the wrong things, like some missed opportunities, but I can’t seem to move past them. I feel so drained and useless.
— Missing My Friend in Las Vegas
DEAR MISSING: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your good friend. The death of someone close can affect people in many different ways. For some, the reminder that life isn’t infinite can trigger them to re-evaluate their relationships or how they have been living their lives. Because you seem to be unable to move past your feelings of abandonment, consider joining a grief support group. However, if that isn’t enough, a licensed therapist may help you to regain your balance.
DEAR ABBY: My daughter’s significant other fathered her two children and seemed dedicated to his family. He worked hard to support and care for them. Then, almost overnight, it all changed. My daughter is now a single (unemployed) mom with two little ones under 4. She needs help, and I need advice about how to best help her. It appears they’ll need to move in with us (an arrangement that will be stressful for all). Life is a bowl of lemons, and I need a good recipe for lemonade.
— Ready to Pitch In DEAR READY: This would be my recipe: The first thing you adults should do is remind yourselves that this won’t be forever — only until your daughter is able to find a job, get back on her feet and the children are in day care. Repeat it to yourselves out loud when necessary, and it may help you retain your sanity. Next, help your daughter ensure that the children’s father continues to provide financially for them. If he is resistant, an attorney may be able to help, and so can government agencies. And last, give the new additions to your household all the love and understanding you can — which I am sure you are already doing. This, too, will pass.
It has been said that the cure for writer’s cramp is writer’s block.
The cure for declarer’s contract cramp can be defenders’ suit block.
Look at the West hand in today’s diagram. What would you lead against three no-trump after the given auction?
This is a tough bidding deal that gets much easier if East cannot resist throwing in a one-spade overcall. Then South would rebid either three diamonds (a tad cautious) or two spades (a slight overbid if the spade queen is worthless). But when East passes, most pairs would have the given auction.
Of course, if spades are 4-4, three no-trump will be cold. Or, here, if West chooses to lead the spade six, the suit will block, and three no-trump will make with an overtrick.
If West anticipates the possible problem, he might lead the spade jack and hope partner works out what is happening, which is unlikely. Or West could choose the king. Here, that ought to succeed. East will encourage with the eight, and South will drop the nine. When West continues with the spade jack, East will think his partner started with a doubleton. But if so, they cannot run the spades, because East has no entry card. Also, would South have falsecarded with the nine from Q-9-6? East should win with the ace, and when the queen drops, he can run the suit, then congratulate his partner on the great lead.
If you would have led the club five, that could have been right. But against no-trump you should tend to lead majors, not minors, and choose stronger suits rather than weaker suits because you need less from partner to run the suit.