DEAR ABBY: Here's another one of those "I never thought I'd be writing Dear Abby" letters:
Several years ago my father had a will drawn up stating that at his death my mother should inherit everything and, at her death, his three living children should inherit everything. The will specifically named my sister and my brother, but my name was left out completely!My father swears that this was a clerical error, but he refuses to have the will retyped to include my name because he says it would be $150 wasted. He says my sister and brother will be fair with me.
I offered to pay the $150 myself to get my name put in, but he insists that it's not necessary. I hope I don't sound money-hungry; I just want things legal and hate to take a chance on something so important handled so casually.
What do you think should be done? - HURT DAUGHTER
DEAR HURT: If your father sincerely wants you to share in his inheritance, he'll have his will retyped to include your name. Also, ask your father to speak to his lawyer about the "wisdom" of naming only two heirs, and assuming that they will be "fair" to a third (unnamed) sibling. I urge you to leave nothing to chance. Seek legal advice from an attorney.
DEAR ABBY: I am in a relationship with a guy who has been divorced for 10 years and still refers to his "ex" as "my wife."
We have been living together for almost a year. We occasionally talk about getting married, but I'm in no hurry to do so because I don't want to commit myself to having sex once a month (twice, if I'm lucky) for the rest of my life.
I suspect that he's in no hurry to get married because he feels religiously (and possibly emotionally) still married to his first wife.
Now, you tell me, what kind of future do you think we have together? - PERU (INDIANA)
DEAR PERU: A weather forecaster might describe your future as dark, dismal, hazy, threatening, and don't plan any picnics.
DEAR ABBY: Please settle an argument between me and my grown son. Last weekend we attended a wedding, followed by a very nice catered dinner. There was more on my plate than I could possibly eat, so I asked for a doggie bag.
My son thought I was out of line. What do you think? - NO NAME OR TOWN, PLEASE
DEAR NO NAME: I think your son was right. Taking leftovers home from a restaurant is both expected and permissible - doggie bags are provided for that purpose. But schlepping leftovers home from a wedding dinner is a no-no. P.S. A piece of wedding cake, si; but food, no.
DEAR ABBY: I am a young married woman. Recently I was part of a discussion with some other married women, and I said if my husband was cheating on me, I wouldn't want to know. We have a big difference of opinion on this, and I said, "I believe in that old adage, `Ignorance is bliss.' " Can you please tell me who said it, and where did it come from? - PREFERS BLISS IN BUTLER, PA.
DEAR PREFERS: That adage you are referring to is, "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." And it's from Thomas Gray's "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College." Ignorance is not necessarily bliss in all cases. (P.S. Forgive me for being picky, but there is no such thing as a "young" adage - all adages are "old.")
C) 1989 Universal Press Syndicate