Husband worries about wife’s friendship
Dear Amy: My wife “Monica” and I are in our 20s. We have been married only for a few months.
Since her senior year in college, Monica has been meeting periodically with a male friend who shares her interest in genealogy.
When we married, I just assumed those meetings would end.
However, Monica has continued to meet with her friend, and I usually bowl or play cards on those evenings.
I know there is absolutely nothing romantic between Monica and her friend. Am I being unreasonable? — Torn in Tulsa
Dear Torn: If you know that there is nothing romantic between your wife and her friend from college, then I fail to see what about this is so troubling to you.
I think you’ll feel a lot better about your situation if you choose to love your wife enough to trust her, completely.
For now — pretend that you do; act as if you do, and you will experience a liberation from your jealousy.
Tell your wife that you’d be happy if she wanted to invite her friend to your house. Say your hellos, serve some cheese and crackers, and then go and bowl a strike.
Dear Amy: You frequently receive questions regarding friends and family members whose behavior changes radically. This creates relationship problems.
My wonderful Momma went from sweet and loving — to angry and vicious. She hallucinated about very sexual things: men, fires and water. She physically attacked my dad (my siblings and myself found this out after she died).
After many years of this behavior — testing, and numerous doctor visits, my beautiful mother was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Nine weeks later, she was gone.
Please, I beg your readers, if your loved one changes drastically, keep fighting for their mental health. — Still Grieving
Dear Grieving: Lewy Body Dementia is a devastating illness which (to my amateur understanding) seems to combine symptoms of Parkinsons disease and dementia. Notably, the wonderful comic and actor Robin Williams was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia after his death by suicide, which has helped to raise awareness. You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.