DEAR ABBY: For the past three months, I have had a long-distance relationship with a man I met through an Internet dating Web site.

He claims he's not interested in meeting anyone else, but has not yet deleted his Internet profile. He still receives e-mail from women -- and has continued to meet them -- all the while insisting he wants a serious relationship with me!

This situation is making me very uncomfortable. While he says all the right things, I cannot completely trust him.

When I confronted him, he said these women are just looking for friends (oh, really?), and he feels sure about where to "draw the line."

What do you think, Abby? Should I trust him? -- HANGING IN THERE IN TUCSON

DEAR HANGING IN THERE: No. You are looking for an exclusive relationship, while he is still looking -- period. Actions speak louder than words, and it's clear that he's not leveling with you.

DEAR ABBY: Last week, I visited my Aunt Bess in Mississippi. She is a great cook and served a delicious trifle to us and the 30 or so relatives who came for the family reunion. Although the dessert she presented was wonderful, I was disappointed she hadn't served the wonderful fresh fruit dessert she served last summer when my children and I visited. I told her how much we had enjoyed the fruit dessert and asked her for the recipe. Sadly, she said she no longer had it. She said she had loaned her Dear Abby Cookbooklet to a friend who had subsequently lost it.

Abby, does a fresh fruit dessert ring a bell with you? If you give me the recipe, I'll send her a copy -- or better yet, how can I get your cookbooklet? I'm sure with a recipe that good, your cookbooklet must have others that are also outstanding. -- TRICIA IN TAMPA, FLA.

DEAR TRICIA: As a matter of fact, it does ring a bell. That dessert has always been a favorite summer taste-treat in my family. It's called Summer Surprise Dessert and is extremely easy to make.

My cookbooklet set can be ordered by sending a business-size, self-addressed, stamped (57 cents) envelope, plus check or money order for $10 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

Fruit is plentiful in the markets now, so I'll go ahead and give you the recipe for the Summer Surprise Dessert, and since you've made my mouth water, I may make one for myself this weekend.

SUMMER SURPRISE DESSERT

1 cup fresh seedless grapes, halved

1 cup fresh whole blueberries

1 cup fresh strawberries, halved

1 cup fresh peaches, cut in bite-sized pieces

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 cups dairy sour cream

In shallow 9-by-12-inch glass dish, combine all fruit and mix well. Sprinkle brown sugar over the fruit. Top with sour cream. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 3 to 4 hours or overnight. The sour cream will seep through the brown sugar to the fruit.

To serve, gently stir the fruit; spoon into sherbet glasses.

TIP: Any combination of fruits may be used: fresh plums, kiwi, raspberries, pitted bing cherries, etc. However, FRESH peaches, FRESH grapes and FRESH blueberries are a necessity. Frozen or canned fruits are NOT recommended.

DEAR ABBY: On Sept. 10, 2001, my husband and I flew to Las Vegas for a three-day mini-vacation. Then 9/11 happened. Along with millions of other American citizens, any plans we had were changed.

Our three-day holiday extended into five days of utter confusion. Guards were stationed everywhere in the casino of our hotel. It was necessary to make many trips to our room to assure family members by phone that we were all right. Each time we used the elevator to go to our room, we had to show proof that we were guests of the hotel before being allowed to proceed.

We also had to rebook our flight, as our original departure had been canceled. Finally, on Sept. 15, we were able to schedule a flight home. As we left our room for the last time, I looked down and saw two shiny 2001 pennies lying in the doorway. Somehow, finding those pennies made me less apprehensive about flying. They are now tucked away along with the story of where we were on that fateful day.

When we got to the airport, we saw weary travelers standing patiently in line for blocks. I would like to offer special thanks to the airport employees who worked diligently to get people to their departure gates.

My husband must use a cane for any extended walking or standing, and a nurse in our line alerted airport personnel that he needed a wheelchair. One was provided as soon as possible. He was then directed to wait inside the terminal while I was told to go to the end of the long line and meet him when I got to the doorway. A wonderful young man close to the front offered to trade places in line so I could have his place. Abby, he had been waiting there for hours.

Those are just two incidents of kindness and generosity we experienced that day. Whoever and wherever you are, thank you again. -- MR. AND MRS. GEORGE CULLINS, GRATEFUL OHIOANS

DEAR MR. AND MRS. CULLINS: Thank you for sharing your experience. It shows that sometimes tragedy has a way of bringing out the best in people.

DEAR ABBY: I debated, but I finally decided the woman who wrote about wanting a "sparkler" on her 25th wedding anniversary needs to know my story.

My friend, hero and love proposed to me by quoting Shakespeare in a valentine. He was finishing his master's degree and there was no money for an engagement ring. Instead, he gave me his fraternity pin, and we married with matching gold bands in 1953. Each year, on Valentine's Day, we would mention something about renewing our marriage contract for another year. It was our ongoing joke.

On our 25th anniversary, he took me to dinner at our favorite neighborhood restaurant. The conversation that evening covered many topics -- our pride in the accomplishments of our four children, their upcoming marriages, etc. He then asked me if I would be engaged to him for the next 25 years -- and presented me with the engagement ring he couldn't afford 25 years earlier. We planned to renew our vows on our 50th anniversary, but God called him after only 47 years together.

Abby, it certainly isn't the biggest "sparkler" in the world -- but it's the most precious possession I own. -- KAY BELL, WESTMINSTER, COLO.

DEAR KAY: I'm not surprised. It symbolizes the wealth of love and accomplishment you and your beloved husband shared together.

To order "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $5 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)

DEAR ABBY: A few days ago, while walking down our stairs holding my infant son, "Carl," in one arm and a cordless phone in my other hand, I tripped over our cat and fell down 14 hardwood stairs. I dropped the phone and cradled my baby close to my body.

I ended up with a black eye, six stitches, a fat lip, a broken hand, and more bumps and bruises than you can imagine. Miraculously, Carl is fine.

Since that day, my mind has been filled with "what ifs," especially regarding my son. I am haunted by all the horrible possibilities.

It's embarrassing to have fallen down the stairs, Abby, but I know many busy mothers are distracted every day. I'm writing because I hope my experience will help others avoid such an accident. -- BLACK-AND-BLUE MOM

DEAR MOM: You learned a painful lesson. There is an old saying, "You can't do two things at once." Although many people can safely multitask, when one is carrying a baby or small child, the safest course of action is to remember you are carrying precious cargo and give it your full attention.

DEAR ABBY: A year ago, my husband and I moved into a lovely neighborhood. We became acquainted with our neighbors across the street, and they seemed like nice people. The problem is they now assume they are our best friends.

We have introduced them to a few of our old friends, and now they think they are part of our "group." They have even followed us when we have been invited to our friends' homes and have shown up uninvited. We don't tell them where we are going -- they drive around until they spot our car.

This is very embarrassing. We are afraid our old friends will stop inviting us knowing that these neighbors will show up too.

How do we handle this without hurting their feelings? We have never had a problem like this before. -- ANNA IN ATLANTA

DEAR ANNA: Your neighbors probably have no friends because they are so needy and possessive. However, following you and intruding on others' get-togethers is rude. Their unacceptable behavior will not stop until someone (how about you?) explains to them that guests who drop in uninvited are not welcome.

DEAR ABBY: My 21-year-old daughter has been dating a 28-year-old man since last summer. I feel strongly that he's too old for her and have expressed this to both of them.

This guy is very good to my daughter and seems to care a great deal for her. Frankly, the only thing I can fault him for is the fact that he's a little too opinionated. Other than that, he's great. However, I still have a problem with the age difference. What do you think, Abby? -- WORRIED MOM IN KENTUCKY

DEAR MOM: Unless your daughter is extremely immature for her years, a seven-year age difference should not present a problem. Of greater concern to me is your comment about him being "too opinionated." You wrote, "It's the only thing I can fault him for."

Perhaps the problem is you don't agree with his opinions. As long as he respects yours and you respect his, there should be no problem.

Time will tell whether or not this man has any character flaws, but keep in mind that few people (male or female) are eager to be placed under a microscope. For everyone's sake, please lighten up.

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $5 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)