In a recent Dear Abby column, a 62-year-old man expressed his long-held belief that his father dislikes him due to his appearance at birth. The man was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, which required multiple surgeries and extensive dental work during his childhood.
Despite having supportive friends, the man stated that he felt his father's anger and hatred towards him, which persists even in adulthood. He described his father as never initiating contact and always appearing angry when they met. He also noted that he feels the hatred from his father when they are in the same vicinity.
Dear Abby, penned by Jeanne Phillips, advised the man to focus on cherishing his supportive friends and to limit direct interaction with his father at family gatherings. The advice column suggested maintaining a cordial but distant relationship and concentrating on enjoying time with other family members. The column also noted that strained family relationships are not uncommon and do not necessarily need to cause drama.
In addition to this primary concern, the column also addressed other reader inquiries. One reader expressed concern about a persistent stranger who repeatedly called and wrote, asking if he was a former Marine named Steve Hall. Dear Abby advised this reader that the interaction bore the signs of a potential scam and recommended blocking unknown numbers and being wary of unsolicited mail.
Another letter writer, approaching 80, inquired about why photographs made her appear older and "scary." Dear Abby attributed this to modern high-definition cameras and suggested electronic photo retouching or wearing sunglasses when viewing them.
The Dear Abby column was founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips and has been written by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, for nearly four decades.