Check Answers Before Whining

Dear Ann Landers: People often complain about what a rotten day they had when they catch a cold or miss a bus. Here is a questionnaire that should put things in the proper perspective for those who think they had a rotten day. Answer yes or no to the following questions:

Today -

Did a family member or dear friend die?

Did the tests you took last week reveal you have cancer?

Did your child get hit by a car?

Did your husband (or wife) announce the marriage is over?

Did you lose your job?

Did you get shot at?

Did your young son run away from home?

Did you just discover that your best friend and your spouse are having an affair?

Did your daughter phone from college to say she’s pregnant?

Did your business go bankrupt?

Did a tornado, hurricane, cyclone or flood hit your house?

Did you suffer a heart attack or stroke?

Did your lover announce he or she “needs more space”?

Did a bomb explode in your area?

Did you just discover a trusted employee has been stealing?

Did somebody break into your home last night?

If you answered yes to one of these questions, you have a right to complain that you had a bad day. If not - as Ann would say - quitcherbeefin’, and count your blessings. - C.W., St. Clair, Mich.

Dear C.W.: What a great letter to help put things in proper perspective. I hope my readers will clip this column and tape it to the bathroom mirror. It’s something we need to see every day.

Dear Ann Landers: My oldest daughter, “Gladys,” married a man who had a drinking problem and abused her. I never liked him. They had three children together. After several years, she left him and moved into an apartment of her own.

Gladys had trouble keeping the house clean, and there were always problems with her job, the kids or something. One day, she tried to kill herself. When the doctors diagnosed her as schizophrenic, the children went to live with my brother’s son and his wife. Gladys did not improve, and my nephew and his wife adopted the children.

Here’s the problem: My brother is pushing me out of my grandchildren’s lives. They live several hours away, and I don’t have the resources to visit as often as I would like on my own. I have asked my brother to let me know when he is going to visit, and he promised he would. Now, I find he has gone several times without me.

It doesn’t make me happy that my grandchildren are being raised by someone else, but I know they are better off. I can’t understand why my brother ignores my requests to see the grandchildren. What can I do? - Heartbroken Granny in Lafayette, Ind.

Dear Granny: Can a family member or a close friend intervene on your behalf? It is sad for the grandchildren, too, to be deprived of your love and the joy that you could bring to their lives. I hope someone in the family will help to get you included. Good luck, dear.