DEAR ABBY: I grew up with a very old-fashioned mother. Living with someone before marriage was against her rules. How I wish I had broken that rule and lived with my first husband before I married him. We dated for five years, but after our wedding I discovered that I really didn't know very much about him. Besides being a total slob, he used drugs. I didn't know that before I lived with him.
I divorced him and am now married to a wonderful man who is neat, sweet and drug-free. We were engaged after dating eight months and were married six months later. Yes, Abby, I lived with him first, and this time I knew what I was getting into. After the experience I had with my first marriage, even my old-fashioned mother approved of my "trial run." -- HAPPY THE SECOND TIME AROUND, SAVANNAH, GA.
DEAR HAPPY: I'm from your mother's generation. However, if you are happy and she approves, who am I to criticize a winning combination?