DEAR ABBY: I can't wait until election season is over. One side of my family is liberal; the other side is conservative. At my request, they don't argue when we are all together. There are occasional disagreements, but fortunately, they never escalate.
The problem is, when I spend time with any of them separately I am lectured nonstop about the "evils" of the other side. They don't quit. I just want to scream, "Shut up! Shut up! I don't care!" I am at the point that I no longer want to vote. I don't know what to do. There's no way I can avoid my family completely. Please advise. -- "SHUT UP!" IN NEW MEXICO
DEAR S.U.: Please don't allow your family drama to stop you from voting. Try this: The next time your relatives inject politics into the conversation, smile, look them in the eye and say, "Let's talk about something pleasant, shall we?" and change the subject.