Dear Abby, penned by Abigail Van Buren (Jeanne Phillips), has offered guidance on various personal dilemmas, including a wife's questioning of her husband's love after 41 years of marriage marked by infidelity.
In response to a letter from "Disillusioned in Arizona," Abby advised the wife to consider why she remains in a marriage where her husband has allegedly been unfaithful for their entire union. While acknowledging the husband's continued support for the family and her own needs, the letter writer expressed a lack of intimacy and a suspicion of ongoing infidelity. Abby suggested that the husband might be staying due to financial or logistical reasons, and if the wife suspects cheating, she should consider getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases and potentially hiring a private investigator for proof. The ultimate decision on whether to remain married would then rest with her.
Another letter writer, "Annoyed in California," who recently turned 80 and enjoys her independence, detailed a campaign by her friends to either move in with her or collectively buy a house together, a concept she dubbed the "Golden Girls Campaign Movement." Abby's advice was to repeatedly and tactfully state her preference for friendship over cohabitation, emphasizing, "I want friends, not roommates."
The column also addressed a family in Oregon whose brother-in-law, a retired doctor, was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The wife, also a health professional, is aware of the condition's progression. Abby recommended that the family ask the couple directly what support they need, rather than offering unsolicited assistance. Honesty and closeness were highlighted as key assets, and the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) was suggested for additional resources for both the individual with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.
Dear Abby is written by Jeanne Phillips, daughter of the late Pauline Phillips, who created the column. It is distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication.