Son decides life on the open road isn’t for him after all
DEAR ABBY: For years, my wife and I were RV enthusiasts. We have a son who was envious about our lifestyle and expressed a desire to own an RV and travel the highways. When we decided to give up the practice, we gave our travel trailer to him as a gift.
The trailer has been sitting on his property for more than a year now and has never been moved. He has kept the license and insurance fees current. He recently told us he has changed his mind and is no longer interested in traveling with it. He has offered it back to us.
We have decided to sell it and wonder what, if any, moral obligation we have to share the proceeds of the sale with our son. Your thoughts? — HOMEBOUND OUT WEST
DEAR HOMEBOUND: You gave your son the RV as a gift; he is returning it to you instead of selling it himself. While I think it would be generous of you to split the proceeds with your son, I don’t think there is any moral imperative that you must.
DEAR ABBY: My wife of 17 years just told me out of the blue that she doesn’t love me anymore and hasn’t for some time. To say that this came as a shock is an understatement. We’ve had our disagreements, but we always worked through them, or so I thought.
Because she has felt this way for some time now, she has hardly shed a tear. For me, my heart is broken. I feel lost, confused, angry, depressed and I can’t stop crying.
I wish I could die, but we have children and I know I can’t leave them. We made a pact years ago that if we ever fell out of love we’d stay together for the kids until they were grown. Now I don’t know if it was a lie or if she’ll keep her promise.
I’m writing this at midnight, crying in the dark and alone. I still love her and my heart breaks every time I think about it. Please tell me what to do. — DEVASTATED IN TEMPE, ARIZ.
DEAR DEVASTATED: I am sorry for the pain you are feeling. What you must do now is pull yourself together and find out from your wife when it was that the two of you stopped communicating honestly with each other — because it seems your paths diverged some time ago. She owes you honest answers, and you need to hear them.
After that, you may have to decide whether you still WANT her to honor that long-ago promise to stay together until your children are adults. You might find it helpful to stage some of these conversations in the office of a licensed marriage and family counselor. Having a mediator present could make it easier for both of you. While I can’t promise counseling will save your marriage, it may provide you with the emotional support you will need in the weeks and months ahead.
The Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, features a quarter-mile track with whimsical features. Wednesday evenings through August, the arboretum is open until 8 p.m. and the trains will run until 7:30. Special weekends are planned throughout the summer.
Check www.morrisarboretum.org.
On stage
An orphan who finds happiness in spite of corrupt 19th century English society in DCP Theatre’s production of the musical “Oliver!” Performances run today through Aug. 2 are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. through July 27, with opening weekend director’s wine receptions today and July 19. Closing weekend performances are 8 p.m. July 31–Aug. 2.
Hedgerow Theatre presents “The 39 Steps,” a spoof of the Alfred Hitchcock film. It runs through Aug. 17. For tickets and show times, call (610) 5654211 or visit www.hedgerowtheatre.org. Hedgerow Theatre is located at 64 Rose Valley Road in Rose Valley (near Media).
For the planet
Lansdale Public Library’s Clean and Green Extravaganza 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 19 features shredding, e-cycling ($10 charge per TV), a car wash, a used book sale, baked good and a costume jewelry sale. The library is at 301 Vine St., Lansdale.
Crab feast
Mount Hope Estate & Winery and Chesapeake Crab Connection present the fourth annual all-you-can-eat crab feast in the Feasting Glen on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, with two sessions of music, food and beer. The two sessions run from noon to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. July 19. Tickets are $49.95, $19.95 for children 5-11. Tickets will not be available after July 18. The Mount Hope Estate & Winery is off of Route 72, Cornwall. Visit www. PaRenFaire.com.
Get to the zoo
On July 19, Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, will host a “No Child Left Inside” Sports Day. Activities from noon to 3 p.m. include obstacle courses and football training with the Temple University football team; music, prizes and giveaways with More FM; and an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic. Anyone wearing a sports jersey receives buy-one-get-onefree admission.
A Zoo Keeper Olympics event is set for July 20.
Admission is $14, $10 for seniors and children 3-12, $12 for students. Contact guest services at (610) 277-3825, ext. 222.
Historic Bethlehem holds its Blueberry Festival and Pints from the Past events this weekend at the Burnside Plantation, 1461 Schoenersville Road. From 5 to 8:30 p.m. today, it’s the Blueberry Festival kick-off event with live entertainment on three stages. The festival continues 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 19 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 20 with an assortment of blueberry treats, a petting zoo, face painting, live music, dancing, sack races, hoop rolling races, and a tasting tent for adult beverages like beer, wine and mead. Get the full schedule at www.historicbethlehem. org. Tickets are $8, $15 if you’re planning on visiting the Pints from the Past tasting tent, $7 for seniors, $4 for children 6-16. Kickoff event tickets are $65 and you need to reserve your spot today by calling Sarah at (610) 882-0450, ext. 10.
Feathered friends
Delaware Valley College’s Dr. Gregory George leads a public bird banding demonstration and discussion of American kestrel research 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 20 at the John James Audubon Center, 1201 Pawlings Road, Lower Providence. Learn how bird banding has evolved since Audubon performed the first bird banding experiment in America at Mill Grove. The demon- stration will be followed by a tour of Todd McGrain’s “Lost Bird” sculptures and the American kestrel boxes on the grounds. Admission is free, but registration is required by calling (610) 666-5593, ext. 109.
Meet the author
Wendy Tyson, who wrote the Allison Campbell mystery series books “Killer Image” and “Deadly Assets,” will hold a book signing 1 to 3 p.m. July 26 at the North Wales Area Library, 233 S. Swartley St., North Wales. Call (215) 699-5410.
Life of art
The Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, reflects on the life of an artist who lived in three centuries (1890-2002) with “Theresa Bernstein: A Century in Art” July 26-Oct. 26. Bernstein’s work depicts major issues and events of the 20th century, such as women’s suffrage and the struggle of immigrants and the working class. Admission to special exhibitions is $10, $7 for seniors, and free for students, children and museum members and to all on Sundays. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. Visit www.woodmereartmuseum.org or call (215) 247-0476.