DEAR ABBY: I have been married for six years to a wonderful man. Although I have hinted broadly on many occasions that I would dearly love some acknowledgment of my cooking, I have yet to receive one word of appreciation for anything I have prepared since our marriage.
I know he enjoys good food because he has mentioned from time to time that his first wife was a great cook. I have baked cakes and pies from scratch, made gourmet dishes, casseroles, stews, pot roasts and turkey dinners with all the trimmings, with nary one "That was good, dear."
I am considering serving him dog food, scooped out of the can and garnished with a few steamed onions and a sprig of parsley, just to see if I get a reaction.
I know a man could have far worse faults than being totally indifferent to a wife who knocks herself out nightly in the kitchen, but one gets tired of buying groceries, planning menus and preparing fine meals for someone who never utters a word of appreciation. Sign me ... UNAPPRECIATED IN LONG BEACH
DEAR UNAPPRECIATED: A friend of mine had the same problem. In desperation, she wrote the following message and presented it to her husband with his coffee after dinner:
"The chef respectfully requests that you comment on the dinner you have just consumed. Would you rate it: Excellent? Good? Fair? Poor?
"Failure to comply with this request could cause the dining room to discontinue its service."
Needless to say, she received a generous outpouring of compliments -- and still does. Try it.