Late-night surprise damages dad-daughter relationship

DEAR ABBY: My 20-year-old daughter recently caught me in watching porn. My daughter now thinks I’m a pervert.

Her mother raised her with conservative beliefs about any expression of sexuality. I’m worried about her ability to make a future marriage work, and I want the wonderful relationship we shared back. Some people have suggested that as she matures, she’ll come around. But I don’t want to wait until I’m gone for her to “come around.” — MISSING MY BABY GIRL

DEAR MISSING: Your daughter is a young adult woman. Most individuals are uncomfortable with the idea of their parents as sexual beings. She may have reacted the way she did because she was embarrassed by what she saw.

Do not broach the subject of what her marriage may be like if and when she marries, because it’s really her affair, not yours. Apologize for the unfortunate turn of events, and use this as an opportunity to be more careful in the future.

DEAR ABBY: A good friend invited me along on a six-night trip to Waikiki. We shared the same hotel room. He slept in the kingsize bed; I slept on the pull-out sofa in the living room area.

I ended up getting bed bugs and figured out where I got them from when I got back to my apartment in L.A. When I told my friend what happened, he immediately said he didn’t want to be involved. Then he began emailing and texting me saying that if I filed a claim, he would be banned by the hotel chain and lose his gold member points. Then he asked how I knew I didn’t get them from a movie theater or maybe the airplane. Now he won’t return my phone calls, emails or text messages. I am shocked and feel hurt. — BITTEN IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR BITTEN: Your former good friend values his gold membership status more than he does your friendship. While he isn’t wrong that you could have picked up the bedbugs on the plane or in a movie theater, if he was a true friend, he wouldn’t be ghosting you now.

Call the hotel and explain what happened. Give them the room number so they can investigate and prevent another guest from having the same experience you did.

DEAR ABBY: I am 70 years old. Because of a combination of good luck, good genes and years of exercising and eating right, I look OK for my age. Many of my friends have not been so fortunate. When I see someone that I haven’t seen in a long time, often they will say, “You look great.” Can you please give me a good reply? I say, “Thank you,” but that doesn’t seem to be enough. “You look great, too” seems inappropriate. Please help. — GOOD RESPONSE IN THE SOUTH

DEAR GOOD RESPONSE: Instead of “You look great, too,” try this: “Oh, my. You’re a sight for sore eyes! How long has it been?”