Unhappy wife looks for strength to finally leave her marriage
Dear Abby: I’ve been married for 34 years. During most of them, I was unfaithful. I never felt like I was truly married because my husband never gave me the time of day, but I liked my marital status because, I guess, we were companions. As soon as my kids married and the nest was empty, I left. I didn’t feel I needed to stay and be unhappy, so I moved out. Why I didn’t divorce him during those eight years is beyond me.
We are now back together, and I don’t know why. We’re not physically attracted to each other, and he is manipulative, selfish and sarcastic. Why, Abby, am I afraid to move on from this? I hate it when we’re alone at home. I’d rather spend the day with my grandchildren. I didn’t miss him at all when I was away, but he called me often and I felt obligated and guilty. What should I do? Searching For Happy In Arizona Dear Searching: If you really want to find “happy,” the place to start would be in the office of a licensed psychotherapist. Once you figure out why you were willing to settle for marriage to a manipulative, selfish, sarcastic man to whom you are not attracted, you will figure out what your next move should be. From where I sit, it should be in the direction of the office of a lawyer who can help you untangle yourself from your unhealthy marriage once and for all.
Dear Abby: I work for a department within law enforcement that has been on a hiring spree for the past few months due to retirements. One of our new hires is an obnoxious know-it-all. When we are talking policy, she constantly corrects us, usually incorrectly. When we try to explain to her about her being wrong, she twists whatever we’re talking about to make herself sound right, or says we’re being rude.
It’s not just policy stuff. Everyday conversation can be frustrating. I made a comment about a geographical location, and she proceeded to argue about it. She then googled it and realized I was, in fact, correct. I don’t want to argue with someone daily who thinks she’s always right. I’ve tried to let it go or say, “Yes, OK, you’re right,” but it is hard sometimes. My boss is no help. He doesn’t deal with her daily, so he doesn’t see it and says we all “just need to get along.” How do I professionally approach this situation?
Over Her In Oregon
Dear Over Her: If this new hire’s personality problem continues, it could poison the entire department. Ask your co-workers if they have experienced what you have with the woman and, if they have, how they feel about it. If they agree that her need to be right even when she’s wrong presents a problem, approach your boss AS A GROUP to discuss it. That way, it will be chalked up as a personnel problem rather than a personal one.
To Those Who Celebrate Rosh Hashana: At sundown tonight, the Jewish New Year begins. During this time of solemn introspection, I wish my Jewish readers, “L’shana tova tikatevu” – may you be inscribed in the Book of Life and have a good year. Love, Abby
Contact Dear Abby at DearAbby.com
ACROSS
1 Luge vehicle 5 Exchange
9 False front 13 Payments to
Uncle Sam
15 Cry loudly 16 Wanderer 17 Senseless 18 Sticky-tongued
animal
20 Country streets:
abbr.
21 Constant noise 23 Lurch out of
control 24 Tennyson & Eliot 26 Fore and __ 27 Gathers fleece 29 Bing __
32 Fringe benefits,
familiarly
33 Air freshener 35 Falling-out 37 “Woe is me!” 38 Ship “spines” 39 Baking __; cookie recipe ingredient
40 “Are we
there __?” 41 Epitome of
slowness
42 Might
43 Fruit juice
45 In a cruel way 46 Sever
47 NFL team
48 Fire escape route 51 BPOE member 52 Man behind the
catcher 55 Heartbeat
regulator
58 Candice Bergen’s
dad
60 __ house; school
event 61 Australian export 62 Singer Ross 63 SAT, for one 64 Windy day toy 65 Author Zane
DOWN 1 Recipe verb 2 Terra firma 3 Enrage 4 Guest bedroom,
perhaps 5 “…seven __ a-swimming, six geese…” 6 1914-18 event 7 Shoot carefully 8 Posters
9 Jerseys 10 Opening
11 Suffix for avoid or
laugh
12 Earth orbiter 14 Passover meals 19 Actor Willem
22 “Don’t judge a
book by __ cover” 25 Official national
U.S. trees
27 ASPCA’s advice 28 Beautiful woman
of Troy
29 __ on; visit 30 Oatmeal
sweetener
31 Alpine goatherd’s
song 33 Equipment 34 Luau souvenir 36 Cautious 38 Hiker’s carryall 39 Zoom skyward 41 Weather forecast 42 Reached a high
point 44 Customer 45 Singer Tormé 47 Comedian Milton 48 Blemish 49 Sticky strip 50 King toppers
53 Lion’s locks 54 Priest’s advice 56 Backyard pond
fish
57 “Please Don’t __
the Daisies” 59 Use a spade