DEAR ABBY: I have been with "Roger" for 28 years. He is basically a good, honest man, but he thinks only of himself. When I had heart surgery, he left me alone at the hospital that night, not knowing if I would live or die. (Nothing would have kept me from his bedside!) I'll be having knee surgery soon, and he won't take the day off or a sick day to take me. He wants a friend of ours to do it.
These are just two samples of his lack of support for me. I guess there is no way to make someone care enough about you to put their conveniences aside. When we moved out of state, he said if he didn't find a job, he was going back home. Well, where would that have left me?
Roger wouldn't have anything at all if it weren't for me. I know I should dump him, but after 28 years, I can't pull the rug out from under him. He cops an attitude and makes me feel bad if I press the subject. I only wish he would do something for me from his heart, but I guess it isn't there. Any advice, Abby? -- HIS LAST PRIORITY IN FLORIDA
DEAR LAST PRIORITY: Yes, because you can't bring yourself to pull the rug out from under Roger, it might help you to memorize the Serenity Prayer when he disappoints you in the future. It goes like this: "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."