Way Past Time For The Heave-Ho
Dear Ann Landers: My husband and I have been married for 30 years and raised four children. All but one have grown into responsible adults. I’ll call the misfit “Allison.”
Allison is 28 and still lives at home. She works as a waitress, pays no rent and has been taking classes at a junior college for nine years. She’s a slob and trashes our house with her litter. If my husband or I tell her to clean up after herself, she tells us to drop dead. Her father then does the cleaning up.
My husband and I have been in counseling for three years. One of the things the counselor tried to help us with was getting Allison to move out. She refuses to budge. I did get my husband to ask Allison for rent money, but after two months, she stopped paying, and he hasn’t mentioned it since.
My husband is constantly making excuses for Allison, and in his eyes, she can do no wrong. I realize I have a serious problem on my hands, but I am powerless to bring about change without divorcing my husband.
We both read your column every day, Ann. Please help us. - A Florida Dilemma
Dear Florida: Your “dilemma” began several years ago. Allison has been out of control for quite some time. I suggest three-way counseling with a new counselor. The one you’ve been seeing for three years has failed miserably.
Your husband should insist that Allison move out at once. He does her no favor when he permits her to live rent-free in your home and cleans up after her.
When Allison is out on her own, she will develop some badly needed self-esteem and hopefully some respect for her parents.
Dear Ann Landers: Where can we write to the service men and women in Bosnia? I’m sure they are lonely for home and some mail from the good old United States or Canada would give them a lift.
I remember reading lots of letters in your column from soldiers serving in Operation Desert Storm and also from readers who had met some very special friends by writing to service people in the Persian Gulf.
Please help us out again. - Red, White and Blue in South Carolina
Dear Red, White and Blue: Bless you for asking. Our service people now serving their country by keeping the peace in Bosnia would appreciate hearing from new friends, old friends and loved ones at home. Send a letter today. Here are the addresses:
For Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps land forces, write to: Any Service Member Operation Joint Endeavor APO AE 09397
For Navy and Marine Corps personnel aboard ship, write to:
Any Service Member Operation Joint Endeavor FPO AE 09398
Gem of the Day: English is a strange language. There’s no egg in eggplant, no pine nor apple in pineapple, no ham in hamburger. Sweetmeats are candy, and sweetbreads are meat.
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