Drama drives a wedge

Dear Abby: My mother has never liked her sisterin-law. Mom thinks “Auntie Beth” is “completely out to get her,” even though no one has seen any evidence to support my mother’s claims.

For the past several months, Mom has been complaining nonstop about how “awful” Beth is. If we don’t show sympathy toward Mom, she then becomes enraged. We can’t have holidays together because my aunt is not allowed in our house. No one wants to be involved in the drama. How can I help my mother understand the harm she is causing and get our family back together? — Sick of the Drama

Dear Sick of the Drama: Your mother’s behavior appears to have escalated from disliking Aunt Beth to obsessive and paranoid. If it is time for her annual physical, her doctor should be told about it because her behavior is not normal and she may need a neurological exam or counseling.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about this, because if you try, she may think that you are “against” her, too. But the rest of the family can refuse to allow her to exclude Aunt Beth by not accepting invitations in which she is not included.

Dear Abby: I have started a relationship and am falling in love. I have known “Willa” for a few years, but we never really hung out before this. We see eye-to-eye on lots of things. However, the other night she told me she’d had a past relationship with her best guy friend, “Mike,” whom she refers to as a “big brother.” I have known him for a year.

Mike is someone I hang out with. Their fling was eight years ago. Willa also hinted there may be other mutual friends she has had relations with before me. I don’t care who she’s been with, but I feel I should know which ones we socialize with.— Wants Answers

Dear Wants Answers: Unless Willa intended to make a full disclosure, she shouldn’t have teased you by making you curious. Obviously, you do care about whom she has been with, so you need to be honest with yourself about why.

Because she has clammed up, perhaps you should assume that she has been with all of the men she has introduced you to. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you can put her past aside and focus instead on building a future with her.

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Poor health hasn’t robbed Gregg Allman of his sense of humor.

Just as it seemed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member was finally over the effects of his liver transplant two years ago, he’s been forced to delay his tour promoting his new memoir, “My Cross to Bear,” for heart tests.

But in a phone interview Thursday afternoon, he seemed in good spirits as he described his latest health problem.

“It’s just one of those

With longtime Atlanta business leader Tom Bell at the helm, the MS Leadership Class has raised more than $166,000 for the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Bell and more than 40 future corporate leaders celebrated their charity work during a graduation ceremony Thursday at the Cherokee Town Club. To nominate someone for the 2013 class, visit www.nationalmssociety.org /leadershipatlanta. make-sure tests, you know,” Allman said. “My heart goes into a fib [atrial fibrillation] and does those beats — you know, instead of going du-dun, du-dun, du-dun, it goes ta-da-dat-ta-da-dootdoot. There’s a little reggae in there somewhere.”

Allman was scheduled to undergo tests Friday at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. He had a liver transplant because of hepatitis C at the same clinic in 2010 and has been recovering, though he’s been forced to cancel or postpone performances from time to time because of setbacks.

The co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band joined his bandmates at last weekend’s Wanee Festival in Florida.

Allman will begin his book tour May 8 if doctors turn up no significant problems. He also plans to hit the road this summer with the Allman Brothers, something he feels he owes his fans.

“I know there’s been a lot of people that have had their hearts set — God bless ’em — on seeing me and my boys perform and seeing me and the Brothers perform,” Allman said.