Dear Abby: On the topic of disastrous weddings, mine ranks right up there at the top!
While I was walking down the aisle, someone stepped on my train, ripping it from the back of my gown. My aunt immediately sprang from her seat, yelling, "I'll fix it!" The wedding then ground to a halt while she tried unsuccessfully again and again to reattach it. I finally proceeded down the aisle with one hand behind me gripping my ripped train, and while ascending the steps leading to the altar - I fell!By then I was so distracted that when the rabbi reached the Hebrew portion of the ceremony, I couldn't follow what he was saying. The rabbi then exclaimed, "I'm stopping the ceremony because whatever the bride is repeating is gibberish, so I will begin again - this time in English!"
When I was handed the goblet of wine, I drank it all, leaving none for the groom. Once more, the ceremony was stopped so more wine could be poured. I was so embarrassed.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, as we walked back up the aisle, the rabbi called out, "You forgot your bridal bouquet!" Then I turned around and retrieved it.
That's not all. When we arrived at our reception, the chef rolled out the cart bearing our gorgeous "wedding" cake. It was decorated with "Happy Birthday," and someone else's name on it.
- A.L., Fort Lauderdale
P.S. My marriage turned out just like my wedding - a total disaster!
Dear Abby: I am writing this letter because I have hit a stumbling block with my mother-in-law.
We have two daughters, but for some reason, she favors "Susie," the older daughter. She always buys Susie more expensive presents than "Becky." She tried to justify it by saying that Susie is bigger and more mature, but why should Becky get a raw deal because she is younger?
I have talked to my mother-in-law about this, but she just doesn't get it.
Becky's feelings are constantly being hurt, and she's getting old enough to realize what's going on. The favoritism is so obvious that I'm afraid Becky will grow to resent her grandmother - and her older sister, too.
Why can't she treat them equally, as we do, even though they are two very different children?
- No Town, Please
Dear No Town: If it will make you feel any better, this problem exists in many other families. The first grandchild in most families usually gets more attention than those who follow.
Tell Grandma that her partiality is noticeable, and ask her to please work harder at being evenhanded in matters concerning her granddaughters. The alternative to that would be restricting her access to the girls in order to avoid hurting the younger one.