DEAR ABBY: May I address this to the "Bride-to-Be" whose father had a "terrible-looking" mouth? (He was missing several teeth in front; some had rotted away, leaving only stubby roots, etc.)
I know this is an exciting time for you and you want your wedding to be perfect, but please be thankful that your father will be present at your wedding.
I lost my dad when I was 19. Eleven years later, I married the love of my life. How I wish my father could have been there. However, my mother participated in my wedding. Like your father, Mom had dental problems. She had had all her teeth removed and was fitted with dentures, which she never wore more than 10 minutes because they were very uncomfortable.
I asked Mom to please wear her dentures on my wedding day. She wore them for a little while, then said she couldn't stand the "darned things," so she went to the ladies room, removed the dentures and put them in her purse.
Now I realize that whether she wore her dentures or not was very unimportant. -- A PROUD BRIDE
DEAR PROUD BRIDE: Your parents obviously raised you with a healthy sense of values. I wish you every happiness.