Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘It’s Wonderful; It’s Marvelous …’

Ann Landers Creators Syndicate

Dear Ann Landers: Mom is 83 and still a good-looking woman. She has been widowed twice, once when she was 58 and again last year. Mom was a devoted wife to both husbands, and the death of her last husband was devastating. She did not want to remain in the lovely apartment where she and “Ervin” lived for 20 years and chose to go to a retirement home.

Mom has been in the retirement home for seven months and she liked it from day one. They have card games, square dancing, Scrabble, poker games, movies, concerts and bus rides to the zoo.

Usually, my sister and I visit Mom on Sunday, but we decided to surprise her on Wednesday and bring a birthday cake. We went straight to her room, but the surprise was on us. There she sat, in her silk negligee, on the sofa, necking up a storm with “Eddie,” an 84-year-old resident whose wife died last year.

Mom was embarrassed and blurted out, “It’s OK. Eddie and I are planning to get married.” We were shocked. Does it make sense for people that age to get married? Can they possibly be interested in sex? Please provide some answers. - Stunned Sisters in Philadelphia

Dear Philadelphia: I think it’s wonderful that your mother and Eddie have found each other. Whatever they want to do together (or perhaps I should say can do together) is their personal business. Be happy for them. If I lived in Philadelphia, I would offer to be the flower girl.

Dear Ann Landers: From time to time, you have printed letters from wives who complain about listening to their husbands snore. Many of them have expressed genuine hostility, as if the poor guys were doing it on purpose.

Why don’t those women realize how lucky they are? The husband who is snoring beside his wife is not out running around. His snoring should be music to her ears. My husband was a world-class snorer. When we lived in an apartment, the neighbors complained. I didn’t mind a bit.

“Vic” passed away three months ago, and I would give anything to have him beside me for just one more night, snoring like an elk.

I hope you will print my letter, Ann. There are thousands - maybe millions - of women who need to see it. - Remembering in Tennessee

Dear Remembering: What a love letter! The snoring males owe you big thanks. You’ve proven a long-held theory of mine that it is not what happens to you but how you look at it that counts. Attitude is everything.

Dear Ann Landers: Yesterday, I got the scare of a lifetime. The school principal phoned and said, “Please come and get your daughter. She fainted in science class and needs to be home.” Of course, I rushed right over. The story is this: In “Maryanna’s” health and hygiene studies, they showed a film about what happens to the bodies of people who smoke. There were very graphic photos of diseased lungs and emaciated and cancer-ridden patients. Two other students got sick.

I am furious with the school for making my daughter ill and would like to know what you think of this. - Seeing Red in New Jersey

Dear Seeing Red: I think it’s wonderful. I wish more young students would get sick and faint from such pictures. Then perhaps fewer adults would die from lung cancer and heart disease.

xxxx