Colby Free Press Monday, November 22, 2004 Page 7 For Better or Worse • Lynn Johnston Widower has new issues with family

DEAR ABBY: A year ago, I lost my wife of 16 years to cancer. Abigail “Ethel” and I didn’t have a perfect marriage, but we worked at it. We Van Buren both had grown children from first marriages. We also had a child to- • Dear Abby gether, a boy, “Ben,” who is 13. Last spring I began seeing a very in the grieving process than your DEAR IN THE MIDDLE: It’s nice lady I’ll call Blanche. Ethel’s son because you had a chance to time to grow up and tell your daughters have little to do with me Tod The Dinosaur PR Condron grieve for your wife during her mother what you did. • since their mother’s death and are illness.For Ben’s sake, I hope Although the divorce was dev- encouraging Ben to be rude and you take your time before re- astating, you have the right to distant to Blanche. I realize Ben marrying. He apparently needs know your father and paternal has issues, but I have tried to ex- more time to adjust and to un- relatives if you wish. Ask her, as plain to him that life goes on. derstand that the new lady in her wedding gift to you, to bury Blanche is not trying to replace his your life is not a threat to his her enmity for one day so you mother; she would like to be his mother’s memory. can have the wedding of your friend. dreams. Many other families My question is, when should I DEAR ABBY: I met my bio- have done this, and the experi- tell my in-laws about Blanche? logical father last June, after wait- ence can be healing. To everyone reading this: If at all ing 15 years to do so. His side of possible, become a donor of some the family was very warm and DEAR ABBY: Your answer to sort. My eternal thanks to the car- welcoming. They treated me as “Deb in Knoxville” was right on. Garfield • Jim Davis ing individual who gave his bone though they had known me all my You advised her that if the man is marrow to Ethel in an effort to save life. a gentleman, he should buy it. And a complete stranger. God bless I was nervous about meeting if he refuses, she should enter the you. them, so I took my boyfriend. marriage with her eyes wide open — NEEDS TO MOVE ON IN They treated him like family too. and no illusions about what her CONNECTICUT I have not told my mom that I future will be. Even though my DEAR NEEDS: Ethel’s went to see the other family, be- husband popped the question to daughters most likely have al- cause she would no longer speak me, he never bought me a ring. It ready told your in-laws about to me, and I don’t want her mad at was an indication of what was to Blanche, so you should tell them me. My parents had an extremely come. He is the world’s worst the “news” now. bitter divorce. Mom still holds a cheapskate. If you don’t, it will appear that grudge, and she expects me to as I can count on one hand the num- you are sneaking around — and well. ber of gifts he has given me over it’s important not to create that I am being married soon, and the years. Hagar the Horrible • Chris Browne impression. It may be painful for now I am being forced to choose He is equally withholding emo- Ethel’s relatives to hear, so don’t between my mom and my biologi- tionally. When I was single, I never be surprised if they are less than cal father. I would like everyone to thought that such things were im- thrilled. be there, and for my stepdad to portant in a relationship. Family counseling might be walk me down the aisle. I was wrong. It’s been a lonely helpful for you, your son, and My fiance likes my biological life. Ethel’s daughters if they are father and his side of the family — LONELY IN DIXIE open to it. Should the “girls” and wants them all to be there, too. DEAR LONELY: In your refuse, go with Ben. He is still I am stuck in the middle. What case, the lack of gifts is less im- young, and he lost his mother at should I do? portant than the absence of what a time when he still needed her. — IN THE MIDDLE OUT they stand for. You have my sym- You are probably further along WEST pathy. Bridge Family Circus • Bil Keane Blondie • Chic Young

Beetle Bailey • Mort Walker

Famous Hand Crossword Zits • Jim Borgman & Jerry Scott This dramatic deal occurred at the 1968 Women’s Olympiad Teams in the match be- tween Canada and the United States. The bidding headed into the stratosphere very quickly at both tables. When the United States held the North- South cards at table one, Dorothy Hayden opened with a forcing two-club bid, and West, Jackie Begin, jumped to five hearts in an ef- fort to deprive North-South of bidding space. Emma Jean Hawes, impressed with her high-card values opposite a forcing two-bid, cuebid hearts to show values sufficient for a Sally Forth • Greg Howard small slam and interest in a grand slam. Hayden obliged by leaping to seven spades, which became the final contract. (Looking at all four hands, seven notrump would have been safer, but Hayden couldn’t tell whether six hearts indicated a in hearts or the ace.) West led a diamond, and declarer took the obvious 13 tricks to score 1,510 points. At the second table, with Canada now North-South, the bidding went: NorthEast South West Pass Pass 2 C 6 H Cryptoquip Pass Pass 6 S THANK YOU FOR West, , leaped to six hearts over two clubs, posing an extremely difficult READING THE problem for both opponents. North made a , and South bid only six spades. Remarkably, this contract went down four! Mrs. Baron chose the deuce of hearts as her opening shot, and East, Rhoda Walsh, ruffed and returned a club in accordance with her partner’s suit-preference . Declarer went up with the ace, expecting to win the rest of the tricks, but West ruffed and led another heart for East to . YOUR LOCAL SOURCE FOR: East then played the king and another club, NEWS ¥ WEATHER ruffed by West, and South found herself down SPORTS four for a total team loss of 1,710 points. 155 W. 5th ¥ 785-462-3963 Tomorrow: Eliminating the risk factor. (c)2004 King Features Syndicate Inc.