Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.
Pennies From Heaven Give Comfort to Many on Earth
DEAR ABBY: This letter is in response to "Daughter of a Frugal Mom," who received a birthday card from her mother containing a penny. Two years ago my father passed away, leaving his wallet with six pennies inside. There are six children in our family, and the conclusion we reached was that he left one for each of us.
When she heard about it, our aunt (Dad's sister) presented us with the following: "I am like a penny. Not a bad one, a very bright one. Remember, I'll always turn up wherever you find a penny anywhere. In the years to come, you'll pick one up and say, 'There's Dad!' In time you'll have a thousand reminders of how much you're loved."
Abby, countless times since that day, we have been reminded in the most unusual and spontaneous ways that our dad is still very much a part of our lives. -- KEEPING PENNIES IN MINNESOTA
DEAR KEEPING: What a charming and comforting story. That letter generated a flurry of mail. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: My grandfather told me that when an angel misses you, he or she will toss a penny down to tell you so. I believe it.
Right after the start of the new millennium, I unexpectedly lost my life partner, Greg, from acute pancreatitis. He started feeling poorly on Jan. 2 and died a week later -- 18 days before what would have been our 20th anniversary.
Greg's mother passed on only four months earlier. As he and his sister were sorting through her belongings, they were surprised to find some pennies in a very unlikely place. His sister recalled how years before, their father -- long deceased -- would sing "Pennies From Heaven," so they took it as a sign that both of their parents were watching over them.
During the days that Greg was dying, I kept finding pennies in strange places. Once, in the parking lot, I looked down at what I thought was a shiny bracelet. It was six newly minted pennies lying in a perfect row -- one for his sister, her husband, three children and myself. I found one in the hospital corridor the day he died. It was in the center of a key chain someone had twisted into the shape of a heart.
I continue to find pennies often -- especially when I'm feeling blue. So, maybe the mother of "Daughter of a Frugal Mom" had a premonition. -- TERRY IN GILBERT, ARIZ.
DEAR TERRY: Perhaps. Please accept my sympathy for the unexpected loss of your life partner. What a bittersweet story. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: The writer who inquired about the meaning of a penny her mother sent her before she died may not have gotten it "for luck."
It seems more likely that the seemingly insignificant token was a "penny for her thoughts," rather than the good luck charm you suggested.
My mother sent me such a penny during my busiest college days. I took the hint, and ever since have made sharing my busy adult life with her a top priority.
I hope "Daughter" didn't wait until it was too late to stop being frugal with the contact her mom wanted. -- LINDA'S DAUGHTER, TULSA, OKLA.
DEAR DAUGHTER: While that "hint" is a little too subtle for me, several other people also mentioned it. I'll leave it up to my readers to decide which explanation they prefer. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: During World War II, my mother sent a penny to each of my cousins who went off to fight. She put a notch in each penny on the theory that "a bad penny always returns." One cousin signed all his war mail, "Just a Bad Penny." Three of my cousins were wounded, but all the "bad pennies" returned. -- SID GOODMAN, PARAMUS, N.J.
DEAR SID: I hope they invested them. By now they should have added up to real money!
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS, and getting along with peers and parents is in "What Every Teen Should Know." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)
Adoptathon Finds Good Homes for Orphaned Pets Everywhere
DEAR ABBY: Spring is here, and it's time to alert pet-loving people to the 2001 Pet Adoptathon. The slogan, "From the Golden Gate to the Empire State," says it all.
The North Shore Animal League America's Tour for Life, organized in conjunction with the San Francisco SPCA, began in the Bay City on April 12. On that day, the league's huge mobile adoption center transported pets from the animal shelter to centralized community locations in an effort to find loving adoptive homes for hundreds of orphaned pets.
From the Golden Gate, the 35-foot shelter-on-wheels motored southeast to Albuquerque, continued on to Dallas, traveled east and south to Fort Lauderdale, turned north to New York City and finally, on May 3, will arrive at the Empire State Building -- a true lifesaving journey to help animal organizations along the way to find loving homes for their needy dogs and cats.
The Tour for Life does not end there: It actually signals the start of the North Shore Animal League America's worldwide Pet Adoptathon 2001 on May 5 and 6. This annual event is a spectacular lifesaving weekend during which more than 2,500 shelters in all 50 states and 29 foreign countries join together to find permanent homes for all the pets in their care. Since the league founded Pet Adoptathon in 1995, more than 100,000 orphaned pets have been placed in excellent adoptive homes. As impressive as this total sounds, NSAL America and Pet Adoptathon shelters want to do even more.
The league -- and all participating organizations around the world -- implore animal lovers to adopt a dog, cat, puppy or kitten during the Pet Adoptathon weekend on May 5 and 6. Last year, our combined efforts saved the lives of tens of thousands of pets worldwide. This year, we hope another 40,000 animals will be adopted by kind and caring folks.
For the name of the Pet Adoptathon shelter near you, call toll-free: 1-877-BE-MY-PAL (1-877-236-9725) or visit the Web site: www.petadoptathon.com. -- J. JOHN STEVENSON, PRESIDENT, NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA
DEAR JOHN: Thank you for the exciting news about your pet adoption programs for 2001. Your mobile adoption center reminds me of the saying, "If Mohammad can't go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad." I'm sure your efforts will be greeted with enthusiasm by animal lovers everywhere.
Readers, if you have been longing for a pet and thinking about buying one, please open your hearts and homes to a loving shelter pet. They have so much love to give, and all of it can be yours if you participate in this year's North Shore Animal League's Adoptathon. Purr-purr, woof-woof! -- and away we go!
DEAR ABBY: My sister gave birth to her first child a few months ago. He was a beautiful baby, called home by God on the day he was born. My sister is an incredibly strong person, but I know she's hurting more than she lets on.
With Mother's Day approaching, I am wondering if it would be appropriate to give her a Mother's Day card. I don't want to make her sadder than she already is, but I also don't want her to think I've forgotten or don't care. I'm not sure what I should do. -- GRIEVING AUNT IN NEW YORK
DEAR GRIEVING: I am very sorry you lost your precious nephew. My heart goes out to you and his dear mother.
Yes, by all means, acknowledge your sister's loss -- but not with a traditional Happy Mother's Day card. Select a beautiful blank card and write your own personal message of remembrance.
Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.
To order "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)
DEDICATED FOSTER PARENTS GIVE KIDS THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED
DEAR ABBY: We are an actress and a basketball player writing to you to ask your help in lighting a lamp of inspiration for the 600,000 children currently living in foster care.
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and we would like former foster children to join us in sharing their personal stories.
We both grew up in the foster care system. Being a foster child can be a painful and isolating experience, leaving many children without direction and purpose in their lives. We acknowledge that many foster children have experienced shame and felt "unattached" -- with no real sense of belonging to a family or community. Yet, we know firsthand that as painful as it is for children to live without their parents, foster care can also be the best thing for a child in harm's way. It was for us.
We were blessed to receive support and commitment from dedicated foster parents and mentors who believed we could fulfill our greatest dreams. And both of us, as well as thousands of other foster children, have gone on to lead successful and productive lives.
We believe that the skills and life lessons learned by former foster children can serve to light the way for those now in foster care. They can inspire current foster families and social workers by reminding them of the enormous difference their dedication makes, and encourage other caring individuals to become foster parents.
By sharing our personal stories, we can bring a world of promise to children in foster care, and provide them with clear examples of how they can live their lives to the fullest, and in doing so, enrich the lives of others. It is a legacy that all of us who have been in foster care must leave for our children and the future. -- VICTORIA ROWELL AND ALONZO MOURNING, NATIONAL SPOKESPERSONS FOR FOSTER CARE
DEAR VICTORIA AND ALONZO: You are living proof that with consistent mentoring, and with caring foster parents with an abundance of patience, foster children can succeed. For them to achieve, strong role models are essential because children absorb what they see around them.
That is why I am joining you in asking other successful former foster children to take pen in hand and share their stories. What was it that worked for you? What fortified you when times were difficult? Your personal experiences can bolster and enlighten current foster parents, inspire new ones and improve the foster care system. I know I can count on you. My readers are the most generous people in the world when it comes to giving of themselves.
Please address your letters to: Casey Family Services, 1 Corporate Drive, Shelton, CT 06484. The toll-free number is 1-888-799-KIDS (5437). The e-mail address is: dearabbyresponse@rowellfosterchildren.org. They're waiting to hear from you.
DEAR ABBY: I have been with the same man for 17 years. I would like to get married, but he is not saying anything. What should I do? -- STILL SINGLE IN NEWARK, N.J.
DEAR STILL SINGLE: You have been incredibly patient to have waited this long for a proposal of marriage. Tell him it's time the two of you tied the knot. If he gives you an argument, perhaps it's time for you to consider whether you're better off with him or without him.
Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order "How to Have a Lovely Wedding." Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)