DEAR ABBY: I am in the midst of a romance with a wonderful young man I'll call Bob. I'm crazy about him, and we're planning on a future together. His parents are the nicest people in the world.
There is only one problem. They are both chain smokers, and secondhand smoke seriously irritates my lungs. It has made me so sick that I've been bedridden for a week.
Bob understands completely -- he's a nonsmoker -- and has talked to his mother and father at length about my sensitivity to smoke. They claim they're trying to stop and that they will not light up around me. But it's not happening. Every time I see them, they're sitting on the other side of the room with the windows open -- smoking.
Abby, I have tried to be nice about it. I love Bob and I like his folks. I don't want to lose him. What should I do? -- SMOKE-FREE IN THE DEEP SOUTH
DEAR SMOKE-FREE: Your health must come first. If they cannot master their addiction, under no circumstances should you be in a house, car or restaurant with them. If Bob loves you, he'll back you up.