New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)

Classic car gets too much attention

- Jeanne Phillips Write to Dear Abby at P.O. Box 96440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or dearabby.com

Dear Abby: I drive a classic car to work every day. People often ask me about selling it. Most of the time I take it as a compliment and tell them it is not for sale currently, but the same people often continue to ask. It is starting to get on my nerves. I have even seen people trying to open up the hood to see the engine while I’m off in the distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciate­d.

On Edge in Georgia

Dear On Edge:

Tell the offenders (again) that your car is not for sale AND you do not want anyone touching it. If it continues to happen, tell your supervisor or your boss. There could be legal liability if your car is damaged. However, if you’re still not comfortabl­e, change jobs.

Dear Abby: I am cleaning out my closet and have decided to sell my wedding dress. I love the dress; it’s beautiful. But it’s a very large box to store. My 16-year-old daughter has made it clear to me she will never marry. It was difficult for me to accept, as she’s my only daughter. The thing is, she wants to try my dress on. I don’t want her to because she doesn’t agree with the sanctity of marriage or the commitment of it, and I don’t want my wedding dress tried on by anyone who feels this way about marriage. It means more than playing dress-up, and I believe it should be worn only by someone who respects it. Am I wrong? Does my daughter have a right to have hurt feelings over this?

Not a Game of Dress-Up

Dear Not: You are not wrong. But if you are trying to impose your values on your teenage daughter, I seriously doubt it will work. I wish you had mentioned why your daughter feels the way she does. Have you asked her? Rather than argue about whether she has a right to put on YOUR wedding dress, A discussion about what she thinks it symbolizes to you — as well as what trying it on means to her — might be more productive.

P.S. Because you are feeling cramped for storage space, consider donating the dress to a bride-to-be whose traditiona­l values mirror your own.

Dear Abby: I’m having trouble with feelings I probably shouldn’t be having about someone. She’s always walking around in her underwear when I come over. I like it, of course, but I’m not sure if it is meant to tease me or if I should act on it. I’d really appreciate your help.

Confused in the East

Dear Confused: A positive message of the #MeToo movement has been that when there is a shadow of a doubt, a person should COMMUNICAT­E to avoid any unfortunat­e misunderst­andings. It would be appropriat­e to ask this woman why she walks around in a state of undress when you are there, because you are not sure how to interpret the message.

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