Dear Queenie,
Our son and his wife and their dog live with us on a street with a lot of traffic. We have a fenced-in yard and when one of us takes a dog out for a walk we keep it on a leash, but sometimes the dog gets out of the yard over or under the fence and runs around loose until we realize what has happened and bring it back into the yard and sometimes when we are out walking the dog someone tries to pet it.
Queenie, what if the dog gets hit by a car or causes an accident when it is running around loose? Who is responsible for the vet bill? And who is responsible if it bites someone who tries to pet it?—Concerned parents
Dear Parents,
Your insurance company can explain to you how much of your dog’s activity is covered by your homeowner’s insurance (assuming you have such insurance, which you should). And a lawyer can explain your legal position regarding the dog’s activities.
Dear Queenie,
Some time ago a guy I went to school with got in touch with me online. Then he called me and since then we talk at least once a week, sometimes more. Then I found out he came here to visit his family, but he didn’t let me know he was here so we could meet in person, but he still calls me.
Queenie, do you think he is married or has a girlfriend?—Confused former classmate
Dear Confused,
He could be married or have a girlfriend and still want to stay in touch with you or perhaps when he visited his family they kept him too busy to have time for you.
Tell him you are sorry you did not get to see him and ask if he will be visiting his family any time soon and if, when he does, it will be possible for the two of you to get together for at least a short visit. His response should give you some idea what to expect.
Dear Queenie,
My wife passed away several years ago and now I have met a woman who is also widowed for some time and we have fallen in love and are thinking about getting married. However, while I have a moderate income, her husband was quite wealthy and left her very well-off, and I can’t afford to take care of her the way he did.
Queenie, do you think I have a chance of making marriage to her work?—In love, but worried
Dear In love,
This is something you should discuss with your lady friend and work out financial matters before you before you get married. It would be a good idea for the two of you to consult a professional financial advisor.
However, you both should be concentrating on all the things that make the two of you compatible and that made you fall in love.
Dear Queenie,
About a year ago I had a big argument with my daughter who was thinking of walking out on her husband after they had been married only a few weeks. I tried to make her understand that marriage is a big commitment and she shouldn’t give up on it so soon, but the argument got worse and started to be about other problems between the two of us.
They did stay together and recently they celebrated their anniversary, but my daughter hasn’t spoken to me since our argument and after a while I stopped trying to contact her in any way – phone, texts, emails, whatever.
Her husband, my son-in-law, stays in touch with me and he has tried to get her to contact me but she just won’t do it.
Queenie, how can I get her to reconcile with me? I miss her so much.—Sad father
Dear Father,
Apparently your daughter is rather immature and tends to make hasty decisions.
Send her a letter or an email saying how sorry you are for anything you said that hurt her and that you hope she can forgive you someday.
And be glad her husband stays in touch with you.
Dear Queenie,
I found out that my husband was having an affair with a co-worker and he promised to end it and I am sure he did, but I just can’t get over what he did, no matter how hard he promises not to ever do anything like that again.
Queenie, how can I learn to trust him again and go on being married to him like before?—Heartbroken wife
Dear Wife,
Not being able to trust your spouse is very damaging to a marriage, or to any relationship for that matter. Professional marriage counselling would help you learn to deal with all this.
Ask your family doctor, or clergyperson if you are religious, to refer you to a marriage counsellor. It would be best if your husband goes with you for counselling, but if he will not, go by yourself to get the help you need.
