Dear Queenie,
After a family get-together with our children and grandchildren we noticed that some money was missing from my husband’s wallet that was sitting on the dresser in our bedroom.
No one was paying any attention, so anyone could have gone in there and taken the money.
Queenie, should we mention this to anyone or just let it go?—Ripped off
Dear Ripped,
Unless you want this to become an issue with your family every time you see any of them, let it go. But from now on make sure to lock up your money and any other valuables that could easily be taken. Lock the rooms they are in, if necessary. And if anyone asks about the security measures you have taken, tell them all why, without accusing anyone in particular. The culprits will (hopefully) get the message.
Dear Queenie,
I’m a senior citizen who recently joined a senior citizens group for the social contact, but all they seem to do is complain about the weather, their health, the food, you name it they don’t like it, and it’s depressing.
So now I’m the one who is complaining – about them!
Any suggestions, Queenie?—Gloomy Gussie
Dear Gussie,
Find another group to hang out with, one with a purpose in life such as a volunteer organisation. There is nothing like being able to help others to improve one’s own outlook on life.
Dear Queenie,
My wife and her grown-up daughter from a previous marriage are joined at the hip via telephone. The daughter calls several times a day and they talk and talk about nothing in particular. She even has called when we were on vacation and in the middle of some special vacation activity.
She always calls on my wife’s cell phone, and my wife walks with it in her hand everywhere, even around the house, so she won’t miss a call. Our other children don’t do this.
Queenie, help!—Fed up husband
Dear Fed up,
This is not uncommon between mothers and daughters who are close. As long as your stepdaughter does not call while she is driving a vehicle and your wife does not answer such a call while she is driving, and as long as you do not have to answer the phone, do not make a big thing of this. After all, things would be much worse for your wife if she and her daughter were estranged.
Dear Queenie,
My best friend doesn’t want me to date her brother because she says if we have any problems she would be caught in the middle, so her brother and I have been hanging out together without letting her know about it.
Queenie, I hate keeping a secret from my friend, but I know she’ll be mad at me if she ever finds out about it. What should I do?—Secret girlfriend
Dear Girlfriend,
Your best friend’s reason for not wanting you to date her brother is more than a little bit selfish. The only ones who have a right to try to keep you and her brother apart are his parents and yours, and if they do not object, stop sneaking around and let your friend know what is going on.
And if you and her brother ever have any problems, keep her out of it.
Dear Queenie,
I’m getting ready to go to college and I have several universities to pick from. My first choice offers all the courses I want to take, but my older brother says he would be offended if I go there because it is his school’s biggest rival.
I don’t know whether it is more important to get the education I want or to keep peace in the family.
Queenie, what do you advise?—Undecided
Dear,
I advise you not to let your brother’s pettiness keep you from getting the best education you can.
As for your brother, this advice is directed at him: GROW UP!!! Would you really let a silly school rivalry interfere with your sibling’s future? If so, you deserve whatever hurt feelings you suffer.
