Dear Queenie,

  A friend of mine T. just broke up with his long-time girlfriend because another friend of ours X. has been telling him things about her that I happen to know are not true. T. says he doesn’t trust X. but he still listens to what X. says.

  Queenie, is there anything I can do about all this?—Honest friend

Dear Honest friend,

  Not much. You might ask T. why he still listens to X. if he does not trust him.

  Tell T. you care about him and suggest he get professional counselling.

Dear Queenie,

  My mother is in her 70s and claims to have several ailments that keep her from going out of the house. All she ever wants to talk about is what is wrong with her.

  I know she may not be totally healthy, but staying in all the time and not getting any exercise can’t be good for her.

  Queenie, how can I help her?—Worried son

Dear Son,

  Do not try to get your mother to take care of herself the way you would like her to do. See to it that she sees her doctor – go with her if you can arrange to do so – and gets tested, and treated if necessary, for whatever she thinks is wrong with her.

  And if there is a programme in the community that you think she would enjoy, offer to take her there and to participate with her.

Dear Queenie,

  Last year I dated a man who I fell in love with and he said he loved me too. But we’re not dating anymore and he’s going out with someone else now. I get along with them, but I’m very jealous of her and I think he knows it.

  Queenie, should I ask him if there’s any chance we might get back together?—Ex-girlfriend

Dear Ex-girlfriend,

  The reasons you stopped dating this man are still valid and now he has another girlfriend, and I am sure she knows you are still interested in him.

  It would not be a good idea for you to try to go after her boyfriend. Do not mention to him anything about getting back together unless you are absolutely certain he wants the same thing. If he ever wants to get back together with you he will let you know.

Dear Queenie,

  Recently I found out that my cat has a medical condition that requires me to give her medication a couple of times a day. When my mother found out she said maybe I should have the cat put to sleep.

  Queenie, she has a cat of her own so she should understand how I feel. Why would she say such a thing?—Cat lover

Dear Cat lover,

  Not everyone is willing to take such devoted care of a pet, and your mother said what she said before thinking about how you might feel about it – if she even understood how you might feel. Try to forgive her.

  And I wish you and your cat good fortune.