Dear Abby: I have known “Sheila” for 30 years. Once we were loved friends. She was always a social drink. Twelve years ago, she lost her husband for cancer and began to drink more and more. Sheila is now an alcoholic. Friends and family have tried many times to help her. She is used to rehabilitating twice to appease her daughter. He tried AA but said he was comfortable there. She had a program at home for months, but went through the motions only until it was done.
Around the last three years, Sheila has passed out, has fallen and broke her face and accidentally burned her house. She has been hospital tasks for ambulance several times, and more recently, she received her second sentence in DUI. My problem is that she calls me every week for Chitchhat on several daily issues as if nothing had happened. If I try to talk about his problems, Sheila says he feels it and will do it better, and then change the subject. Our conversations make me sad and angry.
Should I finally face it, or simply cut it from my life? I have tried to be affectionate and supportive when most of his other friends have ruled out, but I am ready to give up. – Finished in Maine
Dear finished: Tell Sheila that Althegh you care about her, you are no longer willing to stay and see her try to commit suicide, because that is what the legs have to do. Tell him that you would love to continue talking with her, but only once he has faced his serious alcohol problem and that he started the path to recovery. (Tell your daughter the same). Sometimes, an addict must reach the bottom of the rock before realizing what has cost them their habit.
Dear Abby: A month, I had to fly throughout the country with my husband to attend my nephew’s wedding. It was a very special event because my nephew had never married and seemed to be a single confirmed. After arriving at the airport and we were about to register, I realized that I had brought my identification. I told my husband to address the flight without me.
When my husband arrived, he told his brother that he was there, forgotten I had my identification. My brother -in -law told my husband that I would tell his wife that I got sick, and my husband agreed. I was furious with my husband when I found out.
I had tolerated my husband to tell my sister -in -law (who is my friend) who had forgotten my identification. I am also angry with my brother -in -law for lying about me. Should I tell my sister -in -law the truth and let her husband know about me? -No-show in Virginia
Dear Non-Show: A better way to express it would be to tell your sister -in -law (who is your friend) that you could not climb to the plane because you forgot your identification, and you still cannot understand why your husband and hers did not give the rush of re.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by his mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.dearabby.com or Po Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.