DEAR ABBY: The letter you printed from “Gun-Shy in South Carolina,” about the antics of her gun-toting, alcoholic father-in-law, caught my attention. I’m a former mental health clinician and program inspector. I discussed that letter with a friend who is a psychiatrist.
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I’ve been trying to read some in the Old Testament recently, and I’d like to ask you a question: Why don’t we still do animal sacrifices, like the people were commanded to do in those days? — D.M.
DEAR ABBY: My son married a sweet girl three years ago, and I thought we would become a close family. I haven’t bothered them at all. Since then, she has become cold and distant to me. My son rarely calls or comes around.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m afraid I have handled something badly. My circle of friends throws a lot of celebrations. This year a friend invited me to her engagement party, bridal shower, kitchen tea, a “Yes to the Dress” shopping trip and luncheon, her housewarming, a bachelorette party and her wedding.
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: What do angels look like? My aunt likes to collect figures of angels (she has dozens of them around her house), but how do we know if angels actually look like them? — R.E.
DEAR ABBY: I have been with my fiance for four years. He is 32, I’m 23. He is Catholic, and I am Jewish. When I met him, I wasn’t particularly religious, but since planning a trip to Israel and after studying under a rabbi, I have become more religious.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I have been married 121/2 years. He once lost his original wedding band, and we got another one. (Maybe 10-plus years ago — a while back.)
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM:: I’m in jail, and the only reason people here turn to religion is so they’ll impress the parole board and get out earlier. They even laugh and admit it privately. As far as I’m concerned, religion is just a fake, and I don’t want anything to do with it. What would you say to that? — J.H.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have five kids, all under 6 years of age. The youngest are 7-month-old twins. A family in our church has offered to watch them so my husband and I can go out on a date. We haven’t been alone together in a year. We have no family or friends nearby to offer respite.
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I was in a bad car wreck several months ago, and the doctors didn’t give me much hope of survival. But I made it, and I’m almost completely healed now. I’ve never been religious, but did God have something to do with this? — K.D.
DEAR ABBY: I am 25, and my boyfriend and I have been together since high school. We have now decided to take our relationship to the next level by living together. When I brought up the idea to my mother a few months ago, she was against it.
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I know I wasn’t a very good father, but I’m an old man now and I really wish I could see my children again. I’ve begged them to forgive me, but they just ignore me. I don’t know why I’m writing, but maybe you can urge fathers to do better than I did. — B.W.
DEAR ABBY: Recently, my cousin-in-law, “Carrie,” attended a family party. I was happy to see her because I like her and haven’t seen her since my wedding in 2011. Carrie has been going through a difficult time because of her mother’s death two years ago and her father’s remarriage plans.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had an overnight guest who proudly informed me the next day that I need not change the linens on the bed since he had not slept between the sheets!
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I wish I could relive the last few months. I had an accident while driving, and two people in my car were hurt (thankfully, not seriously). I’d been drinking a bit, and I hate myself for being so stupid. Please warn people about alcohol and driving, especially us teens. — M.H.
DEAR ABBY: Some friends are in the process of adopting two children internationally. Early on, they had a garage sale with the proceeds going toward the adoption. I was excited for them and wanted to help.
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: My husband retired last year, and two months later we sold our home and moved south, like we’ve always dreamed of doing. But now we’re wondering if we made a mistake. We don’t know anyone here, and it’s too far from our children. — P.F.
DEAR ABBY: My partner of 12 years and I are well-educated, successful career men. Every few months my mom comes to visit, and we all enjoy spending time together. The last few visits were not so great. We caught Mom snooping in our bedroom and our home office.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m writing a memoir and want to write honestly how I experienced incidents involving other persons, while including the caveat that the other persons may have felt very differently about the same incidents. I think these other people would rather I not write about them at all. Where does self-expression and one’s right to tell one’s memories end, and other people’s right not to be included in my written memories begin?
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: What is Jesus doing right now? I heard that he went to heaven after he rose from the dead, but why didn’t he just stay here on Earth? — S.J.
DEAR ABBY: I have read your column for as long as I can remember. My husband died from a drug overdose, and I am a widow at 32. He was a good man before the drugs, but he wouldn’t stop and I was helpless to intervene. I am now raising our two sons alone.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have found myself in a curious position. As a server in a prominent restaurant, I was accosted by two women who took offense to me referring to them as “young ladies.” The ladies in question were possibly mid-50s to mid-60s, and one became irate, informing me that to refer to her as “young lady” was an insult and condescending.
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: Do you Christians worship three Gods, or just one? I’ve heard about God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but doesn’t that mean you believe in three Gods? I’ve always wondered about this. — F.Z.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 50ish, never-married bachelor with a question about engagement rings. Do you recommend that the man go out and purchase an engagement ring and then present it to the woman when he proposes, or do you think he should propose without a ring and then let her choose the ring she wants? — Old Bachelor in Ohio
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I feel terrible because my grandmother raised me after my parents’ divorce, and after she died I realized I never even thanked her for all she did for me. How could I have been so thoughtless? Will God forgive me? — A.K.
