Want your phone to ring? Get Abby's booklet, "How to Be Popular" -- for people of all ages. To order, send a long, business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.
Messages on Phone MacHine Have Man Tearing His Hair
DEAR ABBY: I have a telephone answering machine. It is very handy, but sometimes it's a source of great frustration when someone dials a wrong number and leaves a message.
For example, the following message was left on my machine: "Your daughter, Judy, was in a minor automobile accident. P1ease pick her up at the suburban police station."
Well, I do not have a daughter named Judy, so I called the suburban police station and suggested that they call Judy's parents and dial carefully next time.
Last week, an elderly woman left the following message: "Doctor, I'm sorry I have to cancel my appointment ..." Then she went on and on, describing all her symptoms and medications until my entire tape ran out.
I also got this message from a young man in a hurry: "Hi, Joe, dis is Pete. We're gonna have football practice at Baldwin Park. Call da udder guys and tell em!"
Last night I received the following message: "Hi, Gloria! We're leaving right now. Please be ready for a change, OK?" Bang! (I hope Gloria was ready for a change.)
Abby, inform your readers that before they leave a message on an answering machine, they should be sure they dialed the right number. -- WRONG GUY IN CLEVELAND
DEAR WRONG GUY: Thanks for reminding all the folks out there to dial very carefully.
DEAR ABBY: Some time ago, you had an article in your column titled "Only in America." It poked fun at Americans who buy everything they wear and use from some foreign country. I think Americans need to be reminded to BUY AMERICAN. Thanks. -- PATRIOTIC IN MAINE
DEAR PATRIOTIC: Once my readers have seen the following, I'm sure many of them will agree with you.
ONLY IN AMERICA
"He drove his German car made of Swedish steel and interior of Argentine leather to a gasoline station, where he filled up with Arab oil shipped in a Liberian tanker and bought two French tires, composed of rubber from Sri Lanka.
"At home, he dropped his Moroccan briefcase, hung up his Scottish tweed wool coat, removed his Italian shoes and Egyptian cotton shirt, then donned a Hong Kong robe and matching slippers from Taiwan.
"More comfortable now, he poured a cup of hot Brazilian coffee into an English coffee mug, set a Mexican placemat on an Irish linen tablecloth atop a Danish table varnished with linseed oil from India. Then he filled his Austrian pipe with Turkish tobacco, lit it, and picked up a Japanese ballpoint pen with which he wrote a letter to his congressman demanding to know why the United States has an unfavorable balance of trade."
Medicine for Elderly Can Be Too Much of a Good Thing
DEAR ABBY: I have recently seen two letters in your column regarding the use of medicines by older people and the problems that medicines may cause, especially in the elderly.
People should consider themselves "consumers," not "patients," when it comes to health care, particularly when it comes to the use of medications. Many older people believe that "M.D." stands for Minor Deity, and they don't ask questions of their doctors (or pharmacists) when they should!
Asking questions means taking some responsibility for one's own health care. It helps to know what to expect from a medicine. For example, ask:
1. Exactly what is this medication being used for?
2. How will I feel after I start taking it?
3. How will I know if the medicine is working?
4. What are the most common side effects I can expect?
5. Can I do anything to prevent any of these side effects?
6. How long will I have to keep taking this medicine?
7. Will this medicine be very expensive? About how much?
You are doing a major service to older adults and their care-givers by calling attention to this issue, Abby. I hope this letter is helpful to your readers. -- MADELINE FEINBERG, DIRECTOR, ELDER HEALTH PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
DEAR MS. FEINBERG: Since overmedication can be such a serious problem for senior citizens, I am sure your letter will be of more than passing interest to many. Other valuable tips for using medicines are available, free. Send a stamped (29 cents), self-addressed, business-sized envelope to: Information Officer, School of Pharmacy, 20 N. Pine St., Room 352, Baltimore, Md. 21201.
DEAR ABBY: I am praying that you can give me some guidance. My husband of many years uses credit cards constantly. He has no pension and has never believed in life insurance or having a savings account. Social Security is his only income.
I have learned that he owes approximately $8,000. I believe he pays his monthly dues from each of his credit cards, in turn. I have no idea how many cards he holds, and I have never signed for any of his credit cards.
We each have our own checking accounts at different banks. I am forced to work full-time because of the many times I have had to come to his financial aid. He is now past 80. I am 69. My concern is that in the event that he should die before I do, would I be held responsible for his debts? -- WORRIED IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR WORRIED: Because you are living in a community property state, you are indeed responsible for your husband's debts if he predeceases you. You would be wise to consult an attorney.
Most teen-agers do not know the facts about drugs, AIDS and how to prevent unwanted pregnancy. It's all in Abby's updated, expanded booklet, "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, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.)
Family's Comedy of Manners Leaves Grandma With Frown
DEAR ABBY: My grandson (I'll call him Stuart) is a 19-year-old college student. A few weeks ago, I noticed that a stage play was coming to town. Because Stuart had played the lead in that play in high school, I wrote to him, offering to treat him and a friend to two tickets. I asked him to let me know which performance he wanted to see so that I could purchase the tickets and mail them to him.
Two weeks went by. I didn't hear one word from Stuart, then his other grandmother told me that Stuart was "pleased" with my offer, but he was "too busy" to accept.
I told my son (Stuart's father) that I was hurt and displeased that his son didn't do me the courtesy of giving me that message personally, whereupon my son immediately came to his son's defense, pointing out what a fine lad he was -- no drinking, no smoking, no drugs. I added, "And no manners."
Now I'm the heavy. Everyone is mad at me, and I am mad at my grandson. Your comments, please. -- THE HEAVY
DEAR HEAVY: Your grandson should have personally acknowledged your offer of the tickets with thanks and regrets for his inability to accept.
But since he failed to do so, you should not have attempted to punish him by reporting his bad manners to his father. A 19-year-old college student is old enough to take his own lumps. Should Stuart have another lapse of bad manners, sock it to HIM -- not his father.
DEAR ABBY: A friend of mine invited me out for an evening's entertainment. One of the places we went to had quarter slot machines. My friend handed me four quarters and said, "Here, have a good time."
I put the first quarter in. Nothing. The second quarter, nothing. Same with the third quarter, and ditto the last quarter. I looked in my purse and found one lone quarter, so I put it in the slot machine and turned away when the bells started ringing, and money began pouring out! I couldn't believe it. This was the first time I had ever won a jackpot. I was so excited, I was in a total fog for the rest of the evening.
The next day I told the kids at work about it and they all thought I should have offered to split my winnings with my date. Why? It wasn't his quarter I won with. -- LUCKY LADY
DEAR LUCKY: Even if you had won the jackpot with your date's quarter, the jackpot would have been all yours. When someone gives another gambling money, the winnings belong to the person who did the betting. Had you offered your date part of your winnings, fine and dandy -- but you didn't owe him anything.
By popular request, Abby shares more of her favorite prize-winning, easy-to-prepare recipes. To order, send a long, business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.)