Reader wonders about smocks

Dear Abby: I am wondering why pregnant women these days don’t wear smocks like we all wore years ago. While I do think pregnant women are attractive, I really don’t want to see their swollen bellies. Wouldn’t it be better to just “imagine” what is under that smock or long skirt? Does anyone agree with me?

— Dorothy in Washington Dear Dorothy: Some readers may agree, but I’m pretty sure most of them won’t. You are harking back to the days when people were embarrassed about the subject of sex and used euphemisms like “in a family way” or “a bun in the oven” to describe pregnancy.

Women today are proud to show off their silhouettes. In fact, I saw a woman recently sporting a T-shirt with an arrow pointing downward and the words “Baby on Board.” While this may seem to be somewhat “in your face,” I think it’s healthier than pretending there’s nothing going on when the expectant mother is in her seventh month and it’s obvious there is.

Dear Abby: I would like to offer a reminder so people won’t have to experience what I am right now. Please take a few minutes to go through your wallet and make photocopies of everything. Put the list somewhere you can easily find it. That way, if your wallet is lost or stolen, you’ll know what was in it.

I did that years ago, but I didn’t keep it current, and now I’m upset with myself. Sometime over the weekend I misplaced my wallet. Luckily, I don’t keep my ID and debit cards there, so at least they are safe. But because I use my wallet so seldom, I’m unsure what was in there.

If people make copies of everything in their wallets, it will be easier to report and replace the things should the need arise. I am so bummed out right now. While I lost only $30, I lost a treasured photograph of my daughter, and I can’t remember what other cards may have been in there.

— Fuming in Lutz, Fla. Dear Fuming: I know from personal experience how frustrating losing a wallet can be, so thank you for wanting to remind readers how important it is to copy documents or credit cards they carry with them. It takes only a few minutes, and the peace of mind it brings is worth the effort. 1 Dawdle 7 Leprechaun kin 10 Bang 14 Bully’s words 15 Moo goo — pan 16 Toy-block brand 17 Wide ties 18 Part of BYOB 19 Galley movers 20 Lawyer’s charge

(2 wds.) 23 — Lee Curtis 26 NASA

destination 27 Mirage sights 28 Writer — Seton 29 “A-Team” star

(2 wds.) 30 Jamaican dude 31 Orchestra locale 32 Garden-pond

fish 33 Hold title to 37 Wood residue 38 Aleta’s son 39 Top-rated 40 Motel of yore 41 Springtime

activity 43 Codgers’ queries 44 Earth, in combos 45 Mountain curve 46 Gulf st. 47 Scorch or burn 48 A moon of Saturn 51 — Paese cheese 52 Multitude 53 Booked 56 Nefertiti’s god 57 Bruin ice great 58 Buzz the

astronaut 62 Groovy 63 Witness 64 Grip tightly 65 Sea eagles 66 Env. abbr. 67 Throat feature 3 Toshiba

competitor 4 Archie Bunker’s

daughter 5 Helena rival 6 Lull 7 “Me” devotee 8 Grassy places 9 Done with, to

Descartes 10 Mottos 11 Flips pages 12 Think alike 13 Malone of the

NBA 21 Being broadcast