DEAR ABBY: I'm responding to "I've Dealt My Hand," who was upset because her husband's card parties went on until midnight. I would like to share my solution:
On the night of the card parties, instead of staying home and seething, "Dealt" should go out for dinner and a movie with women friends. Or, if she has any interests, pursue them: Join a gym, a book club, a quilting or sewing club, take a class in art or music, whatever. Or, she can take a nap before the "boys" come to play cards so that she won't miss so much sleep.
One thing I learned early in my marriage was to stop staying at home and whining because my husband wanted to do something with the guys that I wasn't interested in. "Dealt" should cultivate a life of her own, too. -- BEEN THERE IN HAYWARD, CALIF.
DEAR BEEN THERE: I agree with your practical philosophy. However, the majority of my readers were angered because the husband seemed to be forcing his will on his wife rather than being concerned with her happiness. They felt that his card game should be secondary to her comfort. Of course he should be concerned with her comfort, but she should also be willing to take a back seat to his needs occasionally.