Slight festers into something bigger with time
Dear Annie: My mom became ill after a routine surgery and died four months later. I was able to be with her when this happened, even though it meant being away from my husband, but I would not trade being with her during those last weeks.
Mom was not financially well off, but everything was split evenly between my younger sister and me. (My older sister had died.) I put the small inheritance into savings. The following Christmas, I decided to send $500 to each of my older sister’s two sons so they could inherit something from their grandmother. These kids were in their 20s, and I wanted them to have something to help them start off their lives.
According to my bank statement, the cheques were cashed, but I never received any sort of thank you or acknowledgment. It is nearly five years later, and I am still hurt and disappointed about this. Am I being childish? I cannot seem to move on and reach out to them about
anything anything else. else. — — Hurt Hurt and and Disappointed Disappointed
Dear Dear Hurt: Hurt: It is natural for you to want your generosity to be acknowledged, and of course, your nephews should have thanked you. But by waiting so long, you have allowed this slight to fester and damage the relationship. Please call your nephews. Ask whether they ever received the money. Ask whether they were offended by the cheques, since they didn’t acknowledge them in any way, and say that insulting them was certainly not your intent. See whether an open, gentle conversation can mend things.
Dear Dear Annie: Annie: I I have have been been a registered dental hygienist for the past 32 years. I assure you that part of my sterilizing routine between each patient includes sterilizing the overhead light, light switch and handle.
If a patient has any concerns about the equipment not being sterile, he or she should address them at the next appointment. I would never want a patient to question the cleanliness of my operatory. I would be happy to share my sterilizing procedures. — Professional and Hygienic
Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the
Ann Landers column.